Valiantsin Stefanovich seeks recovery of property seized during KGB search

Human rights defenders Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich have received official replies to their earlier complaints concerning the property seized by the KGB during a search at Mr. Bialiatski’s apartment back on 20 December.

However, the replies were issued by Minsk Pershamaiski District Police Department, the body whose actions were appealed by the human rights defenders.

Chair of the Department Mr. Koval states that “as a result of an inspection, the arguments provided in the complaint failed to be confirmed and therefore the actions of the policemen were considered lawful”.

Apart from that, the reply claims that it was merely an examination of Ales Bialiatski’s apartment.

Meanwhile, Article 204 of the Code of Criminal Procedures specifies the conditions for holding an examination: with consent of the premises’ owner or upon a prosecutor’s sanction to be presented before the beginning of the examination.

Moreover, the police body violated the Law on Public Appeals, since a complaint was submitted to Minsk Pershamaiski District Prosecutor’s Office on 29 December 2010, on 14 January it was redirected to Pershamaiski District Police Department and was not replied until 25 February, however dated 10 February.

As a result, Valiantsin Stefanovich lodged another complaint with Minsk City Prosecutor’s Office, referring to Article 9 of the Law on Public Appeals, which prohibits redirecting appeals to the state bodies whose actions are being appealed.

Valiantsin Stefanovich calls upon Minsk City Prosecutor’s Office to prosecute the policemen who allegedly violated the Law on Public Appeals and to secure recovery of his private property.