MINSK, 29 March (BelTA) – The Prosecutor General's Office of Belarus has opened a criminal case into preparations for an act of terrorism, BelTA learned from Prosecutor General Andrei Shved.
According to the source, after reviewing materials provided by the State Security Committee and the Internal Affairs Ministry the Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal case on charges of preparations for an act of terrorism as part of an organized group (Article 289 of the Criminal Code) against the former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and participants of the so-called BYPOL initiative [an antigovernment organization made up of former Belarusian law enforcement officers]. Andrei Shved said: “These people tried to arrange explosions and arsons in Minsk and other cities several days ago. The citizen Maleichuk was caught in the act and has already given testimony implicating the organizers and participants of the terrorist attack.”
The investigation materials also indicate that the organizers wanted to accuse representatives of government agencies of taking actions that endanger human lives. “The serious terrorist threat was detected and promptly suppressed thanks to smooth work of the State Security Committee and the Internal Affairs Ministry,” the prosecutor general stressed.
The criminal case has been forwarded to the investigation office of the State Security Committee for a preliminary investigation. The KGB has been instructed to immediately arrange an international search effort for these individuals and prepare a package of documents, which will be sent to competent authorities of Lithuania and Poland in order to extradite the individuals to Belarus where they will face criminal prosecution.
Andrei Shved went on saying: “This criminal case represents another fact that confirms that the so-called opposition will do anything to reach their criminal goals. They organize and commit grave crimes to harm lives and health of our citizens. We will take every measure to prevent anyone, who encroaches on law and order, from avoiding prosecution.”
