Andrei Sannikov: Real Chance To Investigate Into Crimes Committed By Regime

Those responsible for political disappearances in Belarus will not hide anywhere.

Leader of the European Belarus civil campaign Andrei Sannikov commented on the sensational confessions of former SOBR fighter Yuri Garavski, who declared to the Deutsche Welle that he participated in the abductions and killings of Belarusian oppositionists-opponents of Lukashenka 20 years ago, in a conversation with Charter97.org.

- What has been added to the issue of the investigation of political abductions and murders in Belarus by the testimony of the ex-fighter of the Special Rapid Response Unit “SOBR” to Deutsche Welle?

- It is somewhat strange to hear that in this case they are primarily looking for something new and value Garavski’s revelations from this point of view. This is not the main thing.

The main thing is that in connection with these confessions the topic of political disappearances in Belarus has re-emerged, which is very important, and which the authorities are trying to hush down in every way.

What is new is the fact that there appeared a living witness of these killings, whose testimonies correspond to what we already know. Thanks to this, the society once again discusses these crimes, which cannot be forgotten until an independent investigation is conducted, until we find out the whole truth.

- What can be the result of the appearance of a living witness outside Belarus and giving evidence to a foreign publication against those guilty of disappearances?

- I want to remind you that back in 2010, opposition leaders asked the UN Security Council to start an international investigation into the disappearance of opponents of the Belarusian regime. We didn’t particularly expect that such a decision would be made: an international investigation could be conducted under the auspices of the Security Council, and there two countries, China and Russia, which are permanent members of the Security Council, constantly veto and block issues related to human rights violations. Nevertheless, we managed to submit our materials to all embassies, including Russian and Chinese. The Security Council, upon the initiative of the US delegation, held a discussion on this issue. And although no decision was expected to be made, it drew international attention to these crimes.

Now, European justice, if interested, has a great chance to launch an independent investigation into political disappearances in Belarus. And the fact that a former SOBR fighter seeks asylum is just an excuse for Europe to address this issue and revise its attitude to criminal regimes in general, including the Lukashenka regime.

- Is there any chance that an independent international investigation will not be limited only to the perpetrators of crimes, but will directly deal with the assassin paymaster?

- This situation is interesting just because we know more and can assume who the paymasters are, rather than who the performer is. Because conflicting versions are being thrown in about the performers.

I think that there are very serious grounds for an international investigation in this matter. We are talking about the report of Christos Pourgourides to the Council of Europe, and the decision of the Council of Europe, which approved this report. Then a very serious legal work was done, and in the film authored by Deutsche Welle Pourgourides says that the trail leads to the very top. And he emphasizes that by “the very top”, he means Lukashenka.

You can say anything you like, but there is a report in which the names are given, including the name of the alleged customer, and there are absolutely clear circumstances: political disappearances occurred at the moment when the Lukashenka regime already existed, that is, when the Constitution was already violated, the power was usurped, the principle of separation of powers was destroyed, and there was no independent investigation, nor an independent court.

More names can be added, but the facts are undeniable: these are political disappearances that occurred during the illegal change of the political system in Belarus, which led to the construction of a dictatorship.

- Is it possible to say that the latest events - first the NEXTA film about Lukashenka’s crimes, now the sensational confessions of one of the perpetrators of these crimes - knock the dictator’s ground and give a certain signal to Belarusians about the need to change such a power?

- Under the dictator, there is generally no legal soil - the power retention continues. And Belarusians have always had legal rights: they are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international pacts, which are signed by Belarus and which clearly state that every nation has the right to choose its own government. It enshrines the rights of citizens and the rights of the people - and not a word about the rights of dictators.

Citizens have the right to change their government, have the right to peaceful protests, as well as the right to freedom of speech - the citizens have all these rights. The dictatorship grossly violates these rights, that is, commits crimes. Therefore, the power in Belarus today is criminal.

Even regardless of how much percent the information of Yuri Garavski is true, his testimony only confirms the fact that those responsible for the crimes will not hide anywhere. The people simply will not allow these cases to be closed.

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