WIVES OF MISSING HANCHAR, KRASOWSKI PROTEST AGAINST SUSPENSION OF SEARCH FOR THEIR HUSBANDS. THEY MIGHT ADDRESS A EUROPEAN COURT HEARING CASES OF HUMANITY CRIMES

Minsk city prosecutor’s office has unsuccessfully investigated kidnapping of Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasowski for 2 years. In the end of 2002 the investigation was dismissed. The official reason for dismissal was lack of chances to complete it.
But the wives of the missing politicians, recognized the victims in the case, did not agree to the dismissal of the investigation. For 5 months Zinaida Hanchar and Iryna Krasowskaya complained against the ruling to drop the investigation to different levels of prosecutor offices, but all their actions had no effect. The prosecutors refused to resume the investigation. On 20 May the women filed a complaint to Centralny borough court of Minsk.
The court has 10 days to decide whether to note the claim. If the borough court decides not to hear the case, the wives of the missing politicians will apply to city court, then – to the Supreme Court. They suspect the courts of all levels are going to dismiss their appeal. Then they will have legal grounds to address a court in one of the European countries. This might be court in Belgium or another European country, which hears cases of humanity crimes.
Lawyer Harry Pahaniayla comments to RFE/RL: “If a European court considers our proofs that it is impossible to hear the case in Belarus sufficient, and notes the claim, certain Belarusian citizens will be announced suspects. Then it would be possible to seek after their detention and forcible delivery to court through the Interpol. In my opinion, we will need three months to go through all procedures to be able to address a European court”.