Baranavichy human rights defender appeals illegal interrogation by KGB

On 28 March, Baranavichy human rights defender Siarhei Housha lodged a complaint with the city court against local KGB department.

Mr. Housha argues that he was not allowed to be assisted by a legal counsel during his interrogation at the city KGB department back on 3 February 2011. The human rights defender says this is a violation of Art. 62 of the Belarusian Constitution, which states that “everyone shall have the right to legal assistance to exercise and protect his rights and freedoms, including the right to make use, at any time, of assistance of lawyers and his other representatives in court, other state bodies, bodies of local government, enterprises, institutions, organisations and public associations, and also in relations with officials and citizens.”

Earlier, the KGB officials said that the refusal was legal.