Experts: Security Officers and Officials Will Be Settled in Apartments Seized from Opposition Figures

Why do the authorities need trials in absentia of “fugitives”?

On 12 May, the House of Representatives adopted in the first reading amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code that provide for the introduction of the institution of “special proceedings” — in simple terms, trials in absentia — for considering criminal cases against accused persons located outside Belarus.

According to the chair of the Investigative Committee, Dzmitry Hora, “special proceedings” will not be mass in character and are aimed against persons who “caused the most significant and substantial damage to our state.”
“The adoption of the law will make it possible to bring to justice persons located outside Belarus who committed serious crimes against our country, and not only to bring them to justice on paper, but also to make decisions on confiscating their property,” Hora said.

As an example, the head of the Investigative Committee cited former head of the Kupala Theatre Pavel Latushka, whose actions, according to Hora, “caused enormous damage to the Republic of Belarus, which, according to the materials of the criminal case, was expressed in concrete figures.”

Among other potential defendants under “special proceedings,” Hora named Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the heads of “those very foundations that financed extremist and terrorist actions on our territory.”

UDF (https://udf.name/) asked experts what goal the authorities are pursuing with this decision.
“This decision is unlikely to have a serious preventive effect”
Andrei Kazakevich, director of the Political Sphere Institute and Doctor of Political Science, noted in a comment to UDF (https://udf.name/) that the regime continues to act within the logic of repression established in late 2020.

Photo: dw.com
“Its meaning is to punish, to take revenge on opponents of the authorities.

But it seems to me that this particular decision is unlikely to have a serious preventive effect; it will not strongly influence people’s decisions about whether to participate in protest activity, especially those who are already abroad and engaged in opposition work,” Kazakevich believes.

Why does the expert believe that those abroad, even with the introduction of trials in absentia and confiscation of property, will not fear engaging in opposition activity?
“Criminal cases have already been opened against many of them; they were not thinking of returning to the country under the current regime anyway.

A trial in absentia will not have new significance for them.

And far from all of them still have property registered in their names in Belarus,” Kazakevich explained.

What may happen next to confiscated property?

Will the authorities be able to sell it?
“I think there will be problems with this.

When power changes, if not in a few years then later, the question of the legality of property confiscation will arise.

Who will be prepared to pay personal money now, understanding that this property will most likely have to be returned?

Confiscated real estate can be given for use by state employees or for commercial use.

But if we are talking about sale, there will probably be few people willing to risk their own money,” Kazakevich believes.

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