Human rights activist Aliaksei Kolchyn questioned in the case of Minsk blast

On 3 September the human rights activist Aliaksei Kolchyn was questioned at the police department of Mahiliou oblast executive committee. Despite the fact that he was summonsed as a witness, the lieutenant-colonel of police A.Babkou decided to confine himself to questioning only.

The investigator stated that the police department of Leninski district of Mahiliou had informed the police department of Mahiliou OEC that Mr. Kolchyn could be of interest to the investigation in the case of the blast in Minsk on 4 July 2008. Investigator Babkou asked Kolchyn about his whereabouts at the time of the blast and whether he had any relation to the terrorist act. After the end of the questioning the investigator stated that Kolchyn had to be fingerprinted and photographed. The human rights activist refused from it. He said that there were no reasons for it as he had no relation to the events of 3-4 July in Minsk. In response the investigator threatened that Kolchyn could be detained for three days in connection with the blast, as it had happened to about 180 people.

The questioning took place in presence of a human rights activist Barys Bukhel.