Volha Zavadskaya replied to Lukashenka: “A contractor of Zmitser’s kidnapping hasn’t been found”
- 24.09.2008, 15:06
Alyaksandr Lukashenka told in interviews to western media that kidnapping of leader of the Belarusian opposition and a journalist was “a question of question” for him.
“It is a question of question for me as a president. I would be interested in revealing the truth of that matter. I will only welcome everyone, who can help the investigation anyhow. But one shouldn’t turn this issue into big policy,” A. Lukashenka said in the interview to western media.
Speaking about disappearance of ORT television cameraman Zmitser Zavadski, A. Lukashenka noted that this investigation has been never stopped”. “It is firstly. Secondly, I have said it before, Zmitser Zavadski is my biggest pain. He is absolutely honest, fair man, he wasn’t involved in policy. I knew him well, as a cameraman, he accompanied me several times in the beginning of my presidential activity. He visited my residence, I remember we used to have dinners and lunches together, when he accompanied me. The court made an accusation in this case. A man is serving his life term. A main question for me is to find body of this man, if he had died,” Lukashenka noted.
Lukashenka should be reminded that an action of solidarity with the families of kidnapped Belarusian opposition leaders Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski was dispersed in Minsk nearly a week ago, on September 16. As the Charter’97 press center reported, riot militiamen beat the participants of the action, including candidates for the members of the “house of representatives”.
It should be also reminded that on July 7, 2005, on the anniversary of Zmitser Zavadski’s disappearance, officer of the Minsk riot militia Yury Davidovich hit wife of the kidnapped journalist Svyatlana Zavadskaya at her face during an action on October square. Even disciplinary sanction weren’t applied to him.
The Charter’97 press center asked mother of the kidnapped journalist Volha Zavadskaya to comment on the statements of Lukashenka:
“What should I say? I am indisposed to accusing him directly, but as Lukashenka has said to the whole world he is a guarantor, he is responsible, he is guilty in everything what happens in Belarus. If he interested, let him find Zmitser. How is it possible to say the guilty people are found, if the arrested people don’t admit the guilt in Zmitser’s kidnapping? I am sure a contractor of this crime hasn’t been found yet,” Volha Zavadskaya said.
It should be reminded that in 1999-2000 first vice speaker of the 13th Supreme Council of Belarus, chairman of the Central Election Commission Viktar Hanchar, businessman and public figure Anatol Krasouski, former interior minister, who later became an oppositionist Yury Zakharanka, ORT television cameraman Zmitser Zavadski disappeared in Minsk.
The international society insists on necessity to shed light to the destiny of the disappeared Belarusian oppositionists. Resolutions of the UN Commission on Human Rights and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the OSCE demand to reveal the truth of their disappearance.
A number of high ranking Belarusian officials, in particular, minister of internal affaires Uladzimir Navimau, head of the presidential administration Viktar Sheiman, former interior minister Yury Sivakou and commander of special troops Dzmitry Paulichenka are banned entry EU countries and the US for suspicion of their involvement in kidnapping of the oppositionists.
Minsk riot militiaman Yury Davidovich beating Svyatlana Zavadskaya, wife of kidnapped journalist