English

All computers seized in KGB raid on United Civic Party's office in Homyel

All computers and memory devices were seized in a KGB raid on the office of the Homyel regional organization of the United Civic Party (UCP) in Homyel on January 6.

In particular, three desktop computers, two laptops and also compact discs, memory cards and printed materials were taken away, UCP activist Uladzimir Katsora told BelaPAN.

He described the raid as another attempt to intimidate the Belarusian public but expressed hope that people would be able to see the "true face" of the government as a result.

The office has been a frequent target of the KGB, Mr. Katsora noted. "In 2001, KGB officers raided the office, seized computers and never returned them," he said. "There were two raids in 2007, with six computers and three copiers being seized in the latter one."

Mr. Katsora described the behavior of the KGB officers who searched the UCP office on January 6 as unceremonious. "Only one of the officers introduced himself," he said. "They were so impatient that they refused to wait for the landlady and broke the bedroom door. When asked what they were looking for, the KGB officers said that they were after weapons and drugs. After failing to find either, they settled for our computers. Although the raid was conducted in connection with the December 19 post-election protest in Minsk, we weren't even asked whether we had attended the protest."

Also on January 6, KGB officers raided the home of Andrey Tolchyn, a coordinator of the "Tell the Truth!" campaign. Later in the day, he was questioned at the local KGB office.