UCP Deputy Chairman searched at border
Vasil Paliakou, Chair of the Homel regional organization of the United Civil Party
On December 28, Vasil Paliakou, deputy chairman of the United Civil Party of Belarus, was taken off the train going to Minsk as he was crossing the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. During a thorough examination, he was forced to take off his clothes and even shoes. After the search, the politician was forced to travel to Minsk alone, waiting for nearly three hours for a local train. The border guards and the customs officials did not hide the fact that his personal data were in their database. The customs officials phoned their chief in Ashmiany in order to request permission to conduct a personal inspection.
“In the last month, the customs officials and the border guards have used twice personal inspection procedure against me at the state border. For me, as a law-abiding citizen, it is very unpleasant. I am preparing requests to the chairmen of the border and customs committees asking for explanations why my name causes such a nervous reaction,” said Vasil Paliakou.
A similar incident occurred with him on December 4 in the national airport Minsk, where the politician was about to board a plane heading for Warsaw. Then the border guards searched his luggage, which was already checked in ahead of the flight. As a result, Vasil Paliakou almost missed the plane.
