Rights defenders want Russia to probe disappearances of Lukashenko’s opponents :: Charter'97 :: News

Russian human rights defenders intend to look into the legal possibility of opening criminal cases in Russia in connection with the disappearance of four opponents of Aleksandr Lukashenko’s regime in 1999-2000, Tatyana Protko, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC), told BelaPAN.

She said the matter was under discussion at a meeting of Belarusian and Russian human rights defenders in Moscow on February 25.

Ms. Protko said that under discussion were concrete steps towards democratization of Belarus.

Taking part in the event were Ella Pamfilova, head of the Human Rights Commission under the auspices of the Russian president, and Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin.

The Human Rights Commission plans to hold a hearing on disappearances in Belarus with wives of the missing participating. The Human Rights Commission and the Russian Foreign and Defense Policy Council are expected to set up sections dealing with human rights in Belarus.

Mr. Lukin suggested forming a council of Belarusian and Russian experts within the Ombudsman to study the possibility of launching criminal investigations in Russia into the disappearances of Belarusian opposition figures.

The meeting, organized by Russia’s Foreign and Defense Policy Council, focused on politically motivated disappearances, freedom of the media and violations of the right to free and fair elections in Belarus.