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Harry Pahaniaila: European Countries May Conduct Investigation Following Harauski's Confessions

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Harry Pahaniaila: European Countries May Conduct Investigation Following Harauski's Confessions
JURY HARAUSKI
PHOTO: DW

What has changed since the publication of the sensational interview with the former SOBR special police unit fighter?

The resumption of the criminal case on the disappearance of former Interior Minister Yury Zakharanka, Lukashenka's words about "information attack" and "provocation," the search of human rights activist Aleh Volchak - these are some of the consequences of the Deutsche Welle investigation, released a month ago, which was based on an interview with the former Interior Ministry SOBR special police unit fighter Yury Harauski.

Harauski admitted that in spring and autumn 1999, on the orders of Lieutenant Colonel Dzmitry Paulichenka, founder of the SOBR special police unit, he participated in abducting and murdering Aliaksandr Lukashenka's political opponents - former Interior Minister Zakharanka, former head of the Central Election Commission Viktar Hanchar and businessman Anatol Krasouski. Deutsche Welle reports on what has changed in Belarus after Harauski's confession.

JURY HARAUSKI DURING THE INTERVIEW WITH DW.

After the Deutsche Welle publication, the Investigative Committee resumed the investigation of the criminal case on Yury Zakharanka's disappearance, which was reported to human rights activist Aleh Volchak, who represents the family of the former Belarusian Interior Minister head. During the conversation with Deutsche Welle, Volchak said that although the case had been resumed the day after the interview with Harauski, the documents from the Investigative Committee were sent to him only a week later. "Now we know nothing about how the investigation is going. We are in in the dark about what the investigation bodies are doing," - the human rights activist said.

On January 15, it became known that the Investigative Committee of Belarus resumed the preliminary investigation into the case of disappearance of former CEC head Viktar Hanchar and businessman Anatol Krasouski, who used to support the opposition in 1999. Krasouski's wife Iryna informed Deutsche Welle about it.

Did the authorities try to put pressure on Zakharanka's family lawyer?

Aleh Volchak, who took part in the Deutsche Welle investigation film, faced pressure from the Belarusian authorities after its release. His apartment was twice searched in the criminal case, opened in connection with the bag with human limbs found in the river Svislach. Volchak immediately declared his non-involvement in the incident.

ALEH VOLCHAK

And although the defendant in the murder of a woman, whose remains were found in the river, has already been detained and Volchak is no longer suspected, the human rights activist is sure that the Belarusian authorities have tried to put pressure on him. "There can be no coincidence, - he said. - I think it was due to my human rights activities and participating in the Deutsche Welle film. Perhaps, someone did not like my comments".

Sviatlana Zavadskaya, the wife of the abducted in 2000 ORT cameraman Dzmitry Zavadski, also petitioned the IC to resume the criminal case. However, on January 7, the IC replied that there were no grounds for questioning the new witnesses. Zavadskaya called this answer "a cynical reply". The investigation into the case of disappearance of Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski has not yet been resumed.

European countries may conduct an investigation after Harauski's confession

Human rights activist Harry Pahaniaila believes that the Belarusian authorities have only formally resumed the criminal case against Zakharanka: "In fact, the law enforcement bodies are not going to take serious steps - it was done only so that no one would accuse them of inaction and lack of response to the publications in the media".

HARRY PAHANIAILA

However, Pahaniaila, a former lawyer, notes that assistance in the investigation of events from 20 years ago can be provided by the European country, where now Yury Harauski has requested asylum, using the principle of universal criminal jurisdiction. According to this principle, any State can prosecute crimes against humanity (including forced disappearances) regardless of where the crime occurred and what nationality the victims and perpetrators are.

"Therefore, the victims in the case of disappeared politicians, for example, Yury Zakharanka's daughter Alena, who lives in Germany, may apply to a German court to investigate Harauski's confession," - Pahaniaila explains. - Obviously, in the future it will require cooperation with the Belarusian authorities and then it will become clear how interested they are in investigating the case," said Pahanyaila.

According to Pahaniaila, Yury Harauski's trial will set a precedent, based on which it will be possible to hold trials (albeit in absentia) against other defendants in the case. "However, this requires the political will of European countries," - the human rights activist stressed.

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