05.08.2008 Oppositional candidate Aliaksei Yanukevich is summonsed to KGB in connection with 4 July blast

A KGB officer Yury Salauyou has called to the deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, candidate to the Chamber of Representatives Aliaksei Yanukevich to invite him to a ‘talk’ in connection with the blast which had taken place in Minsk on 4 July in the morning.

05.08.2008 Homel: KGB interrogates Ales Yauseyenka

As the BelaPAN informs, the investigator Uladzimir Vidolis has interrogated Ales Yauseyenka, the coordinator of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Homel oblast, in the case of Minsk blast. The activist was asked where he was on the day of the blast, whether he had a car and in which military unit he had served.

04.08.2008 UCP members are interrogated in ‘Minsk blast’ case

Zmitser Slutski, head of Hrodna city organization of the United Civil Party, and leader of Hrodna organization of Young Democrats Alexandra Vasilevich, were called to the KGB directorate for Hrodna region.

01.08.2008 Trade union leaders are interrogated in the case of 4 July blast

Siarhei Antusevich, representative of the primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU) at Hrodna-Azot open company, and Anatol Khotska, BITU representative in Hrodna oblast, were interrogated by Hrodna oblast KGB department. The trade union activists were asked to explain where they were in the night of 3-4 July. The KGB officers also proposed that the activists gave their fingerprints and asked whether they knew how to make bombs.

01.08.2008 Smarhon: KGB interrogates former deputy head of BPF Youth’s Smarhon branch

On 31 July Vadzim Zharomski, former deputy head of Smarhon branch of the BPF Youth, was taken away from work and guarded to Smarhon KGB department. There he was made to give explanations concerning the blast which had taken place on 4 July. Then Zharomski was fingerprinted at the police department.

01.08.2008 Police interrogate members of Vasil Paliakou’s initiative group concerning Minsk blast

On 30-31 July Natallia Shchukina and Tatsiana Tserashkova, member of the initiative group of Vasil Paliakou, were summonsed to Savetski district police department of Minsk by a telephone call. A police officer who did not introduce himself told them to come to the police department. He offered no explanations either.

30.07.2008 KGB interested in Valiantsin Stefanovich’s family

Alina, wife of human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich, received a telephone call from KGB department in Minsk and Minsk region with a proposition to come to the KGB office for a conversation.

29.07.2008 Democrats called to KGB in blast case

Some democratic activists were called for questioning in the KGB in Minsk blast case.

The oppositionists were called for questionings by phone. As activist of the “European Belarus” civil campaign Maksim Vinyarski told to the Charter’97 press center, a man who named himself “KGB officer Alyaksandr Mikalaevich” phoned to him and strongly recommended to visit the KGB directorate on Minsk and the Minsk region. He said a ground for questioning was 4 July blast in Minsk. The KGB officer refused to say his surname and send an official summons to the activist. Besides, he “strongly” recommended that Maksim Vinyarski not to “inform anybody” about the questioning.

08.07.2008 KGB searches apartment of Nina Shydlouskaya

A search is being held in the apartment of one of the leaders of the World Association of Belarusians Backawscyna (Fatherland) Nina Shydlouskaya.

04.07.2008 Youth activist gets to mental hospital for refusal to collaborate with KGB

Activist of the youth organization Civil Forum Artsiom Zabaryn was taken to the Minsk mental hospital for examination after he had refused to answer questions of the KGB offices.

10.06.2008 KGB interrogates victims of RNE-threats

Yan Taupyha, member of the council of the Christian Democratic Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, and party member Yan Dziarzhautsau, were called to the region KGB office. Six month ago they received threatening letters from the Vitsebsk office of the underground pro-Russian neo-Nazi organization Russian National Unity (RNE).

10.06.2008 Polastk: political views as obstacle to becoming a honors man

An activist of the Young Front Zmitser Sakalou, the best graduate of Polatsk Lyceum, has been deprived a diploma with honors because of his political convictions.

04.06.2008 Open letter of Human Rights House Foundation in support of human rights defender Leanid Svetsik

The Human Rights House Foundation is concerned about the harassment of the human rights defender Leanid Svetsik. On Friday, 23 May 2008 three KGB officers burst into Svetsik’s apartment in Vitebsk. The following search lasted for nine hours and was directed by the senior lieutenant of the KGB. During the search, the KGB confiscated Svetsik’s computer, human rights related printed material and a certificate from the Council of Europe. After the search, Svetsik was brought to the KGB office of Vitebsk region where he was interrogated for more than two hours. The interrogation was videotaped.

30.05.2008 Human Rights Activist Leanid Svetsik interrogated by KGB

Human rights activist Leanid Svetsik and editor-in-chief of the Kurier iz Vitsebska newsletter Uladzimer Bazan have been interrogated by Vitsebsk regional KGB officials. They also were warned of possible persecution for commenting on the details of the interrogation due to 'security reasons'.

It's the second time Leanid Svetsik is interrogated by KGB. The first contact took place on 23 May after a search in his private appartment. He was named witness in a criminal case.

The lawyer has been engaged in providing legal consultations to Vitsebsk activists threatened by the pro-Nazi RNE movement. Uladzimir Bazan was one of their vicitms.

27.05.2008 KGB persecutes Belarusian human rights activists

On Friday, 23 May 2008 three KGB officers suddenly burst into the apartment of Leanid Svetsik, human rights activist from Vitsebsk. They showed to him the ruling of the prosecutor’s office for initiation of criminal proceedings under Article 130.1 of the Criminal Case of the Republic of Belarus (fomentation of national and religious enmity). According to this ruling, Mr. Svetsik is considered a witness in the case of threats to certain citizens from the side of the underground neo-Nazi organization Russian National Unity (RNE).