KGB arrested activist of the European Belarus Alyaksandr Atroshchankau

Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, a young activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, has been arrested just a few minutes ago in the KGB Directorate of Minsk and Minsk region.

As the Charter’97 press-center has been informed by the wife of Alyaksandr, Darya, he was summoned to the KGB in the framework of the investigation of confiscation of computer equipment and personal archives from Atroshchankau’s apartment last autumn.

Before the European March, which was held on October 14, 2007 in Minsk, KGB officers burst into the apartment rented by A. Atroshchankau. They stated that neighbours allegedly complained about “a smell of a dead body”. As a result of a search two computers and different archive materials were confiscated. Atroshchankau himself had to serve a 10-day administrative arrest on traditional charge, “cursing in a public place”.

For a few months Atroshchankau tried to return his things. As said by him, complaints to all possible institutions including the prosecutor’s office had been written by him.

Today morning he went to the KGB Directorate to continue examination. In a little while he called his wife and the only thing he managed to say was: “Dasha, they are arresting me!” After that he was unavailable.

In about half an hour after the incident a well-known lawyer Vera Stramkouskaya managed to reach on the phone the KGB Directorate of Minsk and Minsk region. She was told that nobody called “Atroshchankau” had entered their building, and there are no entries about that in the register of the officer on duty.

Alyaksandr’s wife Darya is convinced it is not true:

“He called me and told that he will go to the KGB in 10 minutes. After that, in about 15 minutes, I received a call from him, and he managed to shout that he was being arrested”.