Belarusian, who was detained in Odessa, is witness in terrorist attack case

Citizen of Belarus Shabalin has the status of a witness in Ukraine.

The information was received Dzmitry Mironchyk, a spokesman of the Belarusian MFA, Radio Svaboda reports.

“We have carried out a check and can confirm that Shabalin is a citizen of Belarus,” Dzmitry Mironchyk said. The MFA spokesman added that Shabalin was a witness in a terrorist attack case. He said Shabalin didn't contact the Belarusian Foreign Ministry or the Embassy of Belarus with any petitions, requests and statements.

Ukraine's Security Service informed on May 19 that a terrorist attack in Odessa had been prevented. Citizen of Belarus Shabalin was detained on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act in Odessa.

According to the Security Service, the Belarusian is an “activist of a radical pro-Russian group”. Besides, three officers of a private security agency, who were carrying out covert visual surveillance of Kulikovo Field Square, were detained. They were going to explode a car there during a mass gathering on May 18. A criminal case was opened. Shabalin said during the interrogation that he had taken part in disorders in Odessa on May 2, when more than 40 people died.