September 15, Pozirk. The Narodnaja Hramada party urged the Belarusian and international community to react to the disappearance of its chairman Mikałaj Statkievič, missing since September 11.
The politician was one of the 52 dissidents pardoned four days ago after Alaksandar Łukašenka met with John Coale, US deputy special envoy to Ukraine. On the same day, all of them were taken to Lithuania except for Statkievič, who refused to leave Belarus.
He stayed at the Kamienny Łoh border checkpoint at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border for several hours, as confirmed by CCTV footage. No further information on the politician’s current whereabouts is available.
Jaŭhien Vilski, who is currently in charge of Narodnaja Hramada, said on Telegram that he could briefly talk to Statkievič on the Belarusian territory in the presence of the Committee for State Security (KGB) agents.
The party urged authorities to disclose full information regarding Statkievič, let his family and lawyer see him, ensure his physical safety and protect his rights. It also called for an independent and transparent investigation of his disappearance involving international institutions.
