KGB Intimidates Oppositionists Before Elections :: Charter'97 :: News

On August 29 at about 10 p.m. the chairman of Myadzel regional organization of the United Civil Party Andrei Abalevich was detained by an unknown person near the entrance to the building of a trading house. As said by Abalevich, a man was hiding his face. He had dark sports clothes and a cap. Without saying his name, he presented himself as an officer of a “special KGB department, which controls opposition activists”.

As Andrei Abalevich told to the UCP press service, the unknown started to intimidate him, saying that preparation for local elections and a referendum is carried out in the country, and “too active oppositionists are making the work of the KGB harder”.

The KGB officer advised Andrei to desert the United Civil party, to find a different occupation or to leave Belarus. He also strongly recommended Abalevich to meet all members of Myadzel regional branch of the UCP and persuade them to leave the party. In case they refuse, they would have to deal with the KGB, he told.

The KGB officer warned that in case his demands would be ignored, Abalevich would have problems. The man told that it was a confidential conversation, and a special brigade of Paulichenka would deal with him if he would make it public.
“I am not afraid of all kinds of intimidation, as it shows weakness and meanness of the authorities,” Andrei Abalevich said.