Aleh Bebenin Passed Away Eight Years Ago

• 3.09.2018, 8:11

On September 3, 2010 the journalist was found hung in his summer house near Minsk.

Aleh Bebenin was born in 1974, Kostroma (Russia). He graduated from Journalistic Department, the Belarusian State University. In the 90s we worked as deputy chief editor of independent Belarusian newspaper "Imya".

He founded and headed Charter97.org since 1998. Aleh Bebenin had wife and two sons.

Law enforcement bodies immediately recognized it as a suicide. However, his death is increasingly questionable. Medical examiners get mixed in the date of his death. No farewell message was found. Friends and colleagues who were at the scene say there were traces of force on his body.

Several months later Prosecutor's Office suspended "examination" upon death of Aleh Bebenin despite of claims of international organizations and civil rights defenders to conduct a proper investigation.

Representatives of the democratic society announced it a "political murder". Aleh Bebenin passed away on the eve of the presidential campaign of 2010 which ended with brutal dispersal of Square in Minsk. Journalist was in the team of one of the main opponents of Lukashenka - leader of the European Belarus civil campaign Andrei Sannikov.

Everyone remembers what happened to some opponents on the presidential elections in 2001. Yury Zakharanka, Victar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski, Zmitser Zavadski were kidnapped and murdered; the appropriate investigation has not been conducted yet.

As soon as the power changes, we will definitely learn the truth about the death of our colleague. The criminal case will be initiated; best criminal law expert will be engaged.