Former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Yury Zakharanka, disappeared under unclear circumstances on May 7, 1999, in central Minsk. According to testimony from former pre-trial detention center No. 1 chief Oleg Alkaev, Zakharanka was abducted and shot on the orders of individuals close to Alexander Lukashenko.
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 Oleg Volchak said.
Thanks to witnesses, investigators established that Zakharanka was seized by about eight men under the age of 30 and forced into a Zhiguli. Zakharanka resisted and shouted for help. According to Oleg Volchak, an audio recording of the witnesses' statements was submitted to the prosecutor's office, but no investigation was ever carried out.