Mass searches of opposition activists in Belarus

Opposition activists are searched under pretence of receiving an anonymous message about a possible terrorist act.

Uladzimir Vialichkin, human rights activist from Brest, told RFE/RL about some facts of pressure on regional public activists.

‘Ales Ramanovich from Pinsk, a coordinator of the local BPF department, phoned me and told that his apartment and the apartment of democratic activist Uladzimir Zyanko were being searched. I heard voices of other people on the phone, and he hung up,’ Uladzimir Vialichkin said.

Then the human rights activist was told a KGB officer was going to visit the office of the Electronic Industry Workers in Brest to check something.

‘Uladzimir Kazeka, head of the Drahichyn BPF department, phoned me and said he was called to the regional KGB department to investigator Shauchuk,’ the human rights defender said.

Uladzimir Kazeka tells what happened later.

‘I couldn’t even suppose what they would tell me. As it was found out, they got anonymous letters saying I am able to commit a terrorist attack, in particular to explode oil and gas pipelines and Kazeka was able to kill local executive officials and interior officers in revenge for previous detentions and trials. Our 1.5-hour long conversation was based on this subject. I warned that I wouldn’t sign anything, because such accusations insult my dignity. I don’t know what will happen next. My friends have already been called to the local KGB department and asked if Kazeka was able to organize a terrorist attack in the country,’ the opposition activist said.

Uladzimir Vialichkin commented on the increased activity of the secret services.

‘The events with Kazeka and Ramanovich are an attempt to impede people to run in the elections. The aim is to intimidate the people in giving up,’ the human rights activist said.