The famous Russian human rights’ activist Sergey Kovalev, the head of the PACE committee on the political disappearances in Belarus, considers the Belarusian authorities involved in Yury Zakharanka’s, Viktar Hanchar’s, Anatoly Krasousky’s and Dzmitry Zavadsky’s disappearances. He said that in his interview to Radio Freedom during his visit to Belarus, where on January 23-24 an international human rights forum was held. By his words, the Belarusian authorities refused to receive him as the head of the PACE committee. The human rights’ activist also reported that he made a list of questions to the representatives of the Belarusian authorities concerning the cases. According to his words, the PACE reporter Christos Pourgourides followed these questions during his visit to Minsk in Fall 2003.
Kovalev thinks that to suspect authorities and ask them for reports is a duty for any progressive society. The authorities should welcome such suspicion; as in a developed society the democratic authorities can better execute their supervising functions. “ The authorities have just one opportunity to wave this suspicion, it is a full openness of the investigation. You suspect us of this and that, here are the documents, and here is what we have done to find the kidnappers and killers. General Lopatik accuses directly Viktor Sheiman in disappearances, here is the protocol of Sheiman’s interrogation. But why hasn’t he been interrogated yet? Why after all these accusations he became General Prosecutor and supervisors the investigation himself? Why were dismissed ex-general prosecutor Bozhelko and KGB chairman Matskevich? How to explain these changes?” says the human rights’ activist.
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