Christos Pourgourides: “All traces of killers of Zakharanka, Hanchar, Krasouski, and Zavadski are in Belarus...”

• 1.07.2009, 14:02

The author of the report “Disappeared people in Belarus” believes the country will come to democracy.

The Rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) told this in an interview to “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper on June 23, when the Belarusian issue was considered at a PACE session in Strasbourg.

– Your colleague Italian Andrea Rigoni remarked cynically during a discussion over Belarus at the PACE session that you may not live to see democratic changes in Belarus. It’s interesting how you reacted to this remark.

– It’s the will of heaven. But Mr Rigoni is not God. Not everything depends on him. I think I’ll see the time when real democracy comes to Belarus. Belarus will become a free and democratic country, whether Lukashenka wants this or not.

– Are you going to visit Minsk again in the nearest time? If I am not mistaken, you failed to meet with certain former high-ranking officials whose names have respect to forceful disappearances of former interior minister Yury Zakharanka, vice premier Viktar Hanchar, businessman Anatol Krasouski, and journalist Zmitser Zavadski...

– I’d like to, but Lukashenka doesn’t allow me to come to Belarus. I can’t receive a visa. But I’d like to notice that everything I do in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is only for good of Belarus. I work not for the sake of Lukashenka but for the sake of the people of Belarus. I have already said that I admire the people of Belarus, who made a great contribution to free Europe. I am concerned over destinies of ordinary people, who live in Belarus today.

– Some years ago, you asked to send you any information that can help to find the truth about the missing people. Has anybody responded?

– I keep in touch with relatives of the disappeared. But neither they nor I believe the truth will be revealed while Lukashenka is in power. I hope an independent investigation will be launched when the situation in Belarus changes. Unfortunately, it’s not possible now...

– The head of state told in an interview to Russian journalists the traces of killers of Zakharanka, Hanchar, Krasouski, and Zavadski were found in Germany. He said the main reason for their disappearances is commercial. What can you say to this?

– Lukashenka deludes people. all traces of killers of Zakharanka, Hanchar, Krasouski, and Zavadski are in Belarus...