UN Commission Pays Interest to Investigation of Zakharanka’s Disappearance

The UN Commission on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance resumed its interest in the case of the former interior minister Yury Zakharanka who had disappeared in 1999. A couple of days ago a corresponding UNO claim was received by the Zkharankas’ lawyer Aleh Volchak. According to him, the UN Commission is to gather at its extraordinary meeting for considering the record of investigations of the disappeared policymakers’ cases in Belarus. The Commission is eager to learn the viewpoints of all the sides involved in the process.

Mr. Volchak told to RFE/RL: ‘The UN commission informed me of the answer given by the foreign ministry of Belarus regarding Yury Zakharanka case investigation. They wrote to the UNO that ‘the investigation continues but the kidnappers have not been found yet’. The Commission also wants to learn our viewpoint.

Our reply concerning the investigation is certain to be critical. We consider that there haven’t been any investigation actions at all. For instance, we suggested interrogating the people who had been mentioned by different sources among the suspects. Firstly, commander-in-chief of the special regiment Zmitser Paulichenka and the state secretary of the Security Council Viktar Sheiman. But it has never been done.

Though formally the investigation has been extended until 24 September there haven’t been any true investigation actions on Yury Zakharanka case. The Zakharankas are definite to inform the UN Commission of that.

The investigator of the prosecutor’s office Siarhei Kukharenka who is in charge of the case continues to refuse contacts with journalists. On 29 August he told to a RFE/RL correspondent that he ‘had no powers to talk on the subject’.