Klimavichy activist escorted to another town to be questioned by KGB

Aliaksandr Balobin, an activist of the “Tell the Truth” campaign from the town of Klimavichy, was detained yesterday morning outside the building of Klimavichy district military conscription commission by two unknown men who introduced themselves as KGB officers. Aliaksandr Balobin was pushed into a car and taken to another town, KGB’s Krychau interdistrict department, where he was interrogated for three hours.

“First, there were three KGB agents in the study, then I was left with the department’s chief Iliya Krautsou. He accused me of violating Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code, activity on behalf of an unregistered organization. He showed me a lot of materials and photographs that allegedly confirmed this. He also asked who I worked for, to whom I sent information. He then offered to cooperate, “to advise KGB employees” on certain issues, which I flatly refused. Also, I was told that information about my “meeting with the KGB agents should not go anywhere,” because I would be in big troubles, I would “be taken away in a KGB car and would never return home.” Moreover, No one told me my rights and responsibilities when drafting the interrogation report,” says the activist.

Three hours later Aliaksandr Balobin was released, but the KGB officers refused to take him back home.

Aliaksandr Balobin, 23, is currently facing conscription to the army, although earlier medical examinations twice recognized him unfit for military service over a skin disease. On March 28, the civil society activist is summoned for another medical examination.

After consultations with human rights defenders, Aliaksandr Balobin is going to file a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office of Mahiliou region.