Former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Yury Zakharanka, disappeared under unclear circumstances on 7 May 1999, in central Minsk. According to testimony from former Remand Center No. 1 chief Aleh Alkayeu, Zakharanka was abducted and shot on the orders of individuals close to Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
“After his disappearance, a public commission was formed to investigate the case. In the area around Zakharanka’s home, leaflets were posted asking witnesses to come forward; we received six calls,” former prosecutor’s investigator Aleh Volchak recounted.
Thanks to witness accounts, investigators established that Zakharanka had been seized by around eight men aged under 30 and forced into a Zhiguli. He resisted and shouted for help. According to Aleh Volchak, an audio recording of the witnesses’ statements was submitted to the prosecutor’s office, but no investigation was ever conducted.