Dzmitry Kanavalau's family may refrain from any contacts because of threats on the part of security services
A year ago the death verdict to
Uladzislau Kavaliou and Dzmitry Kanavalau was executed. Liubou
Kavaliova has been struggling for the right to bury his son ever
since.
The parents of the main figure of the
case, Dzmitry Kanavalau, still refrain from contacts with
journalists.
Pavel Levinau, a volunteer of the Belarusian
Helsinki Committee, believes that this is a result of threats on the
part of the law machinery:
"In fact, the whole family of
Kanavalaus – his elder brother and father, were kept in custody
during three months after his arrest. Only his mother was left at
large. Most probably, the woman was intimidated. We can only guess
what psychical or physical pressure was applied to Dzmitry
Kanavalau's relatives. Maybe they were even promised that the death
verdict to Dzmitry wouldn't be issued if they kept silent.
During
the whole period of the trial and up to the moment of the execution
Kanavalau's parents were guarded by people in mufti. Journalists of
Radio "Racyja" made repeated attempts to meet with them in
Vitsebsk, but to no avail.