Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of a search of the home of Zhanna Popova and of the arbitrary detention of Viacheslav Andreev and Olga Karatch. Zhanna Popova is executive director of the Vitebsk Kurier (Vitebsk Courier) Publishing House, which publishes the Vitebsk Courier M newspaper. Viacheslav Andreev and Olga Karatch are human rights defenders involved in the Our House Campaign for promotion of human rights. Olga Karatch is the leader of the campaign and of the women's rights organisation Female Centre "Adliga".

Further Information

Posted 28/07/2008 On 23 July 2008, at approximately 7.50 am, plainclothes officers of the Vitebsk Regional Department of Organized Crime (UBOP) arrived at the home of Zhanna Popova and conducted a search. In the course of the search, which lasted two hours, 11 diskettes, 7 compact discs and other information-storage devices were confiscated by the agents who also attempted to take Zhanna Popova's computer with them. The officers reportedly explained that the confiscation of these items was due to the fact that they might contain instructions on how to construct a bomb.

The UBOP officers stated that the search was being carried out in connection with a bombing in Minsk on 4 July 2008, although reports indicate that it may have been due to a letter written by Zhanna Popova to the Chief of Vitebsk Police in connection with confiscation of editions of the Vitebsk Courier M newspaper by authorities on 24 April 2008.

Following the search, Zhanna Popova was brought to the office of the Vitebsk UBOP for questioning. When Viacheslav Andreev and Olga Karatch followed by taxi, their vehicle was reportedly blocked by officers who subsequently pulled Viacheslav Andreev from the taxi. Both human rights defenders were then brought to Zheleznodorozhny Police Precinct, where officers attempted to take their fingerprints and photographs, ostensibly for inclusion in a civic database. All three individuals were reportedly released after a few hours.

Front Line believes that the search of the home of Zhanna Popova and the arbitrary detention of Viacheslav Andreev and Olga Karatch are a direct result of their legitimate and non-violent activities in defence of human rights. In view of these reports, Front Line expresses its concern for the physical and psychological integrity of those named and of all those involved in the Our House Campaign.