Spouses of Disappeared Belarusian Politicians Plead with Putin to Help Investigate into Disappearances :: Charter'97 :: News

Wives of the vanished Belarusian public figures Volga Zakharanka, Zinaida Hanchar, Iryna Krasouskaya and Svyatlana Zavadskaya addressed the president of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin with a request to uphold the formation of the independent commission to investigate into the demise of Henadz Karpenka, abductions of Yuri Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasousky and Zmitser Zavadsky. The women also plead with Putin to inquire from Lukashenka during their meeting about the destiny of his opponents and the implication in the kidnappings of the official structures. Following comes the full transcript of the letter:

“Dear Mr President!

We, the wives of the Belarusian politicians, address you with a request for help.

In 1999-2000 a number of unexplained events and accidents have occurred in Belarus.

Henadz Karpenka, vice speaker of the 13th Supreme Soviet, the head of the National Executive Committee, suddenly died under mysterious circumstances on April 6, 1999.

Yuri Zakharanka, former minister of the Interior, was abducted on May 7, 1999.

Viktar Hanchar, vice-speaker of the 13th Supreme Soviet, chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, and Anatol Krasousky, businessman, were abducted on September 16, 1999.

Zmitser Zavadsky, a cameraman of the Russian television, was abducted on July 7, 2000.

The criminal case on the fact of Karpenka’s death was not brought up. The investigation of the facts related to abductions of Zakharanka, Hanchar, Krasousky, Zavadsky are carried out formally, without consideration of the political version.

In the mass media numerous facts of the authorities’ involvement to the abductions have appeared. However, we have not received clear answer of the authorities to the questions about our relatives. WE were not answered to the question, why the investigation of these cases was entrusted to the people who are suspected in involvement to the abductions. We were not answered why the authorities have declined the help of international institutions and other countries, including Russia. It is another proof that the authorities do not want real investigation of the abductions of the existing regime’s opponents.

We believe that only independent investigation with assistance of international experts and guarantee of access to all evidences could shed light on these accidents.

Russia is the closest neighbour and important partner, which can greatly influence the processes in Belarus. Russia as a country that wants to have more close contacts with Belarus, has a possibility and should see the actual level of democracy’s development in this country.

That is why we ask you to support our idea to create independent connission on investigation of the death of Karpenka and abductions of Zakharanka, Hanchar, Krasousky and Zavadsky.

We also ask you at the meeting with Lukashenka to ask him personally about the destiny of his opponents and about the Belarusian authorities’ involvement to that.

We are ready and eager to meet you to openly and honestly discuss the existing problem of physical elimination of the opponents of the Belarusian regime.

We hope that you would support our proposals, as the decision of the questions could become a real step on the way to development of democracy in Belarus.

With best regards,

Liudmila Karpenka

Volga Zakharanka

Zinaida Hanchar

Iryna Krasouskaya

Svyatlana Zavadskaya”