Authorities not willing to return seized property

The authorities seem to be unwilling to return the money seized by the KGB during a search at the apartment of youth activist Aleh Ladutska back in December 2010, after Minsk City Prosecutor’s Office refused to consider a complaint by the activist’s mother Mrs. Natallia Ladutska.

The official reply said the seized money “would be returned to the owner by the KGB Minsk regional department”, which, in turn, said a response on the merits should be given by Minsk City Prosecutor’s Office.

Another youth activist Pavel Kurianovich says his passport and money were seized during a KGB search.

Asipovichy activist Ihar Simbirou received a reply, saying his guitar seized during a search would not be returned due to “immense workload.”

According to human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich, the claimants have nearly no chances to recover their property seized during the searches, “as the courts would consider the issues on the seized property only concerning the persons, whose cases they have heard.” For example, the KGB seized Likhavid’s PC, and the court considered the issue during the consideration of his case. As for, say, Ladutska and others, and my case as well, we have no status as yet. Mrs. Ladutska is not a suspect or an accused in the case. It looks like all the property is going to be where it is now”, says Mr. Stefanovich.