29 February 2008
Kazulin’s brother gets back driver’s documents seized from him by unidentified police officers

The brother of former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin, Uladzimir, on February 28 got back his driver’s documents, which had been seized by unidentified police officers.

The documents were taken away from him earlier that day, as he was driving toward Vitsyebsk to see Dr. Kazulin off to his prison near the city.

Uladzimir was able to reclaim his documents with the help of Pavel Levinaw, a member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. “He is a well-known figure in Vitsyebsk,” Uladzimir told BelaPAN. “He phoned a desk officer, who called back five minutes later saying that I should drive to the regional traffic police department, which was 100 kilometers away. I had to do it at my own peril.”

“A senior lieutenant who received me started waving a charge sheet in my face, but had to retract his words and even apologize after I had enumerated the offenses committed by police during my arrest, told him I’d file a complained and warned that there were reporters with video cameras outside.”

Uladzimir’s car was pulled over by police 7:20 p.m. fifty kilometers away from the prison, allegedly for speeding. “We drove in a single file, there were three or four cars in front, but police decided to stop mine,” he noted. “They were probably following orders. I refused to sign the charge sheet.” According to him, officers of a rapid response unit from Vitsyebsk, who never identified themselves, searched the car for drugs, weapons and ammunition.

“I was first told that my car was stolen and then that it was not in their database,” Uladzimir said. “They said that I should drive with them to Orsha to have my number plate checked. Then I heard, ‘Hurry up, let’s go,’ and the uniformed men got into their car and sped away, taking my driver’s documents and leaving me no ticket. I stepped onto the middle of the road in an attempt to stop them, but they almost ran me over.”

Uladzimir left the police department at about 10 p.m.

Alyaksandr Kazulin, who was serving a 5½-year prison sentence in the Vitsba 3 correctional institution just outside Vitsyebsk, was granted a three-day leave on Monday night to attend the funeral of his wife, who had died of cancer two days before. Although the car driving him back to prison was also stopped for allegedly speeding, Dr. Kazulin was able to return there on time.