BCD activist appeals harassment by KGB

Aleh Aksionau, Mahiliou activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, filed today an appeal to the court of the city’s Leninski District challenging a decision by local KGB officials who instituted supervision over the activist putting him on a preventive record.

Aleh Aksionau urges the court to find the fact of harassment illegal and unfounded. The activist also expects the head of the KGB Mahiliou regional office Siarheyenka to send him written apology for the illegal actions.

"I want the court to issue a special ruling to the KGB for the gross violations committed against me. I want to see KGB officer Makhunou as a witness in court. Also, I want to see my case file at the hearing," says Aleh Aksionau.

On October 22, Aleh Aksionau was invited by cell phone for a conversation at the KGB office. There, he was told that he had been put on a preventive register. The reason for this was the activist’s work on behalf of an unregistered organization – the party of the Belarusian Christian Democracy. During his visit to the KGB office, Aleh Aksionau refused to sign any documents.

Immediately after his meeting with the special services, the BCD activist sent his complaint to the Mahiliou Regional Office of the KGB. As a result, he received an answer, which however is not legally binding.

Human rights activist Barys Bukhel says the letter is not signed by the officer mentioned as the signer of the paper.

"The letter had Siarheyenka’s name, but the signature was not his as it had the word "deputy" written in front of it, while he as you know is the true KGB chief. It does not match the full name of the person who signed the response. This is a violation of Par. 57 of the Ministry of Justice’s “Instruction on document management in the state bodies and organizations of the Republic of Belarus”, approved on 19 January, 2009", said Barys Bukhel.

"In addition, Mr. Aksionau was not given a copy of the document that was shown to him by KGB officer Makhunou. The answer from the KGB does not disclose the reasons for setting up a preventive registration of the activist," says the human rights defender.

Aleh Aksionau also wrote a complaint to Mahiliou Regional Prosecutor's Office. The activist urges the prosecutors to open an investigation into his illegal harassment and bring those responsible to disciplinary and administrative responsibility.

Besides Aleh Aksionau, two more Mahiliou opposition activists have been put on the KGB’s preventive register – local leader of the Belarusian Popular Front "Adradzhenne" Zmitser Salauyou and leader of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Tatsiana Shambalava.