YURY ZAKHARANKA TO BE RECOGNIZED DEAD

On 3 September Kastrychnitski borough court of Minsk will continue hearings on the case of recognizing ex-Minister of Internal Affairs Yury Zakharanka dead.
The hearings started on 2 September.

Yury Zakharanka disappeared on 7 May 1999. He was a member of the shadow government and dealt with collecting the evidence of illegal actions of Lukashenka. Besides that, he initiated creation of “Officers’ Union”. Zakharanka’s wife appealed to court to officially recognize her husband dead, and to consider the day of his disappearance as the day of his death.
Zakharanka’s family received the status of political refugees in Germany. Their interests in court were represented by Aleh Volchak, head of “Legal Assistance to Population” and head of the Civic Commission on Investigation of Circumstances of Zakharanka’s Disappearance. The Investigation Commission results were attached to the case materials. Aleh Volchak also voiced the testimony of anonymous witnesses, who saw 6 strangers dragging Zakharanka to a car. Uladzimir Baradach and Vasil Shlyndzikaw, who saw Zakharanka on the day of his disappearance, gave their testimonies in court. They pointed at the fact, that Zakharanka told them about surveillance. Although he considered it more as psychological pressure. The families of other missing people – vice-speaker Viktar Hanchar, businessman Anatol Krasowski, and ORT cameraman Dzmitry Zavadski – were present in the courtroom.
The hearings will continue on 3 September.