Switzerland: Conviction of former Belarusian official for abduction of Lukashenko opponent
A Swiss court has found Yuri Kharauskii guilty of the abduction of businessman Anatoli Krasofski. Human rights organisations have called the ruling the first in the world against a member of Belarus's security forces.
Historic conviction of former Belarusian official in Swiss court
A Swiss court found former Belarusian security services official Yuri Kharauskii guilty on Monday of the abduction of businessman Anatoli Krasofski, an opponent of President Aleksandr Lukashenko, according to In.gr.
Kharauskii faces a two-year suspended sentence in Switzerland. The court reduced the sentence because of the defendant's full confession and cooperation.
He had admitted in a 2019 interview with Deutsche Welle that in 1999 — while serving in Belarus's special police unit SOBR — he was involved in the abductions of three opponents of Lukashenko, who were later murdered.
Partial acquittal in the Zaharenko case
Kharauskii was, however, acquitted of the abduction of former Belarusian Interior Minister Yuri Zaharenko. The court stated that in the case of Krasofski, the defendant's intent and knowledge regarding the violent abduction and subsequent murder were clear — whereas in Zaharenko's case, this same intent could not be proven.
Three years earlier, the same court had acquitted Kharauskii, ruling that his role had not been legally proven, due to contradictory statements he had made over time. The new trial was brought following an appeal by the daughters of two of the victims.
"First conviction in the world" of a member of Belarus's security forces
Human rights organisations have called the ruling a landmark. "Even though it is a partial victory, it is the first conviction anywhere in the world of a member of Belarus's security forces," said Philip Grant, founder of the Trial International organisation, which supported the daughters of the two victims.
The case is also the first in which Swiss courts have applied the principle of universal jurisdiction to examine charges of enforced disappearance allegedly committed in Belarus.
"An accountability gap has been filled," said Severino Walz, lawyer for the daughters of Zaharenko and Krasofski. "My clients feel great relief," he added.
Kharauskii's lawyer made no comment on Monday.
Next step: the Swiss Federal Supreme Court
The ruling may be appealed once more, in which case the case would be referred to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.
The Lukashenko government has rejected criticism from the United Nations and human rights organisations regarding its record and denies that it holds political prisoners.
Source: In.gr