Belarusian security forces search homes of persons linked to Assembly platform
On August 11, security officers unexpectedly visited a number of delegates of the platform Skhod (Assembly) – Ihar Lyashchenya, Dzyanis Sadouski, Alyaksei Adamovich and others. Today they have reportedly made 23 searches of places where people linked to Skhod reside.
The flat of Ihar Lyashchenya, a former ambassador of Belarus to Slovakia, has been raided. On the back of post-election protests in 2020, he condemned the violence and resigned from his post.
Alyaksei Adamovich, a professional coach and triathlete has been detained today when being at work. He was driven home, where a search was carried out in accordance with the warrant under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (‘organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them’). After the raid, he was taken to the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) for interrogation.
(UPD) Dzyanis Sadouski, executive secretary for the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, has been released after the search; he is under travel restrictions, his wife said.
At least four other Assembly delegates – Alena Radaman, Yury Pisarchuk, Uladzimir Karaliou and Maksim Zhukau – reported searches as well; it is not ruled out that some of them have been detained. Moreover, Radzislau Fyatisau, Natallya Abrashava-Zhadayeva and Artsyom Chepel have been out of reach since morning. According to several delegates, unknown individuals have repeatedly phoned them; they got infrmation that suspicious people were on watch near their flats.
The Skhod Platform of People’s Representatives was founded as an alternative to the pro-government Belarusian People’s Assembly; its goal is to start and facilitate a dialogue between the nation and the authorities. Its delegates were elected by Belarusians on a special web platform.
