Investigation of the case of Yury Zakharanka extended

The investigation of the case over forceful disappearance of former interior minister Yury Zakharanka extended until March 24.

“Narodnaya Volya” newspaper learnt this from lawyer Aleh Vouchak, a representative of the Zakharankas, a former procuracy investigator.

“I have recently received a paper saying the term of preliminary investigation over the criminal case #110352 over disappearance of Zakharanka was extended until March 24, 2010,” Vouchak said. “the notice says results of the investigation will be adviced.”

We remind that vice speaker of the 13th Supreme Soviet of Belarus, the chairman of the Election Commission Viktar Hanchar and his friend, businessman and public leader Anatol Krasouski, a former Interior Ministry head Yury Zakharanka who joined the opposition, as well as a camera operator of the Russian ORT TV channel Zmitser Zavadski went missing in 1999-2000 in Belarus.

The world community constantly states the necessity to shed light on the fate of Belarusian oppositionists. The demands to establish the truth about their disappearances is contained in the resolutions of the UN Commission on Human Rights, of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

A number of high-ranking officials in Belarus, in particular minister of internal affaires Uladzimir Navumau, head of the president’s administration Viktar Sheiman, former minister of internal affaires Yury Sivakou, and former commander of special task squad Dzmitry Paulichenka are banned from entry into the EU countries and the US, because they are suspected of involvement in kidnapping of the oppositionists.