KGB searched apartment of Belarusian gay and opposition journalist

[Svyatoslav Sementsov]

Officers of the local KGB department searched an apartment of a famous Belarusian gay and opposition journalist Siarhei Padsasonny in Gomel on 12 January 2008.

Prakapenka, district militia officer from the militia department of the Central district, knocked at the door of the apartment on 2 Valatauskaya Street, hired by the journalist. He demanded to open the door: allegedly, noise in the apartment was disturbing the downstairs neighbours.
The journalist said he was alone in the apartment, no one made noise there, and he had no downstairs neighbours – there’s a grocery store downstairs.

“After that the KGB agents appeared. They said they had search warrant, and demanded to open the door. I refused, but they warned they would break the door. The warrant said I was suspected of involving pupils and students in the Young Front (opposition youth group banned in Belarus), with the purpose to harm the state,” the journalist said to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Siarhei’s gay friends came to support him. They offered themselves to be witnesses of search, but militia and KGB agents forced them out.
Computer’s hard disk, video-camera and flash memory stick were confiscated from Padsasonny. KGB detective officer, senior lieutenant Melnikau signed the report of search.

In last November the KGB agents took Padsasonny to the KGB department by force for a so called talk – they were interested if he concerned with the satellite TV channel Belsat he works for.

Siarhei Padsasonny is openly gay and very famous within Gomel gay community, but for broader population he is known for his criticism of Belarusian regime.

Please refer the following links for further information

http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/1/14/2964/ (English)

http://telegraf.by/belarus/2008/01/14/search-arrest/ (Russian)
http://naviny.by/rubrics/society/2008/01/14/ic_articles_116_154979/ (Russian) + other photos from this case!

http://news.open.by/333/2008-01-13/44895/ (Russian)

 

www.pride.by

 

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Svyatoslav Sementsov
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