KGB’s Silence :: Charter'97 :: News

Belarusian KGB evades the answer on the statement about institution of prosecution against V. Sheiman, Y. Sivakow, D. Pawlichenka, U. Navumaw, N. Vasilchenka, who are suspected in perpetration of grave crimes.

On January 22, 2004 relatives of the missing Yuri Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasowsky, Zmitser Zavadsky, as well as representatives of the injured party Harry Pahanyajla and Aleh Volchek addressed Belarusian Committee of State security (KGB) with an appeal to institute legal proceedings relating the article 128 of the Criminal Case, which envisages in particular criminal liability for systematic murders out of court, kidnapping of people, followed by their disappearance, tortures or atrocity, because of their political convictions.

Relatives of the disappeared appealed to KGB because its field services were the closest to revelation of the mystery of politically motivated disappearances in Belarus. For instance, in the decree of November 11, 2004 on preventive detention of D. Paulichenka, KGB chairman U.Matskevich pointed out that reliable information is available that “D. Paulichenka is an architect and head of the criminal group involved in abduction and assassination of citizens”. Besides, law of criminal procedure attributes investigative jurisdiction of similar cases to KGB authorities.

No response to the petition demanding institution of proceedings is regarded by the relatives of the abducted and their representatives as a culpable failure, culpable omission of an official attended by connivance of the crime (Article 425 of the Criminal Code).