"They were looking for money"

The creator of the Voice Association Lilia Shibanova - on the detention at Belarusian customs by order of the Russian authorities

The founder of the Voice Association Lilia Shibanova, who was removed from the train Vilnius - Moscow on the territory of Belarus, safely reached the Russian capital. She reported this in an interview with Radio Liberty. Lilia Shibanova came to Moscow at a meeting of the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia and to participate in the observers forum , which will be held on the weekend.

The first about the removal of Shibanova from the train was written on his Facebook page by political analyst Alexander Kynev , who received SMS from her: "I was removed from the train. Report." After that, Shibanova's phones were blocked. Later it turned out that the Belarusian border guards decided to watch the human rights activist at the Hudogai checkpoint, for which they interrupted her trip. After the inspection, Lilia Shibanova left for Minsk by taxi, where she sat on a train to Moscow.

The Belarusian side does not call the cause of the inspection Shibanova. The press center of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus explains that such inspections are held regularly. The human rights activist herself believes that the Belarusian border guards decided to inspect her on the "tip" of Russian colleagues. Lilia Shibanova spoke about her misadventures in an interview with Radio Liberty:

- I have no complaints to the Belarusian customs, since this came from them absolutely not from them. It was clearly some kind of signal for a joint base with Russia. Because when my passport was scanned, the customs officer had huge eyes, and she immediately began to call the brigade to remove me from the train. There was a big search until the personal. As I understand it, they were looking for money. Apparently, there was a signal that I could transport some billions of dollars, namely those that are always looking for non-profit organizations. Naturally, there was a very long procedure for drawing up all these inspection protocols and other things. In this regard, I then had to take a taxi and go to Minsk, and there to jump on a passing next train. Thank God I am now in Moscow, at a conference in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Moscow Helsinki group, which I am very happy. But what happened is an indicator that such signals were apparently sent out and, apparently, not only relative to me. This is probably the next campaign. Although mentally to myself, I laughed that this is such a tradition: the beginning of the federal election campaign ( September 18, 2016 in Russia will be held a single voting day. - RS ) - Shibanov must be stopped at customs.

We reviewed all the things clearly in search of some money. But there was little money ...

- In what form did this search take place? How did you treat you? Did not be rude?

- Of course not. They clearly fulfilled the functions that they were prescribed in this "signal sheet" on me. Were very correct. Moreover, they called me a taxi. The inspection was full, up to the personal, revised all the things clearly in search of some money. But there was little money ... I just heard the customs officer’s conversation on the phone - with whom he talked there, I don’t know - he said that we will not detain, because we have no complaints.

Communication with Russian representatives of the authorities, I am afraid much more

- As I understand it, you have to return to Lithuania in a few days ...

- Before that, I still have to go to Astrakhan to my parents. This, frankly, is much more worried about me. Because from Belarusian customs officers, I do not expect anything bad at all, except, probably, he prescribed some such things. But I am afraid of communication with Russian representatives of the authorities. Because there were facts when they pulled pages from the passport, they threw something ... This worries me much more.

- The media report that you came to Moscow not only to participate in the anniversary of the Moscow State Humanitarian Sciences, but also in a meeting of the Presidential Council for Human Rights. What will this meeting be dedicated to? And do you often have to go to Moscow on business now?

- I rarely visit Moscow. Thank God, communications are now well developed and you can work remotely. But now there will be a very important meeting on non -profit organizations. I arrived precisely for this meeting. I want to talk about the situation with the Voice association , discuss the “raids” at the organization that the “voice” can not stand. Today we have a fine of 1 million 700 thousand, and we lost the second court. We were simply not invited to the first, they simply were not notified, and yesterday the second court was lost.

In general, can anyone be in these elections as observers from citizens, and not from parties?

In addition, they are pressed not only on the organization, but also on specific people. The employee of the Samara branch of Lyudmila Kuzmina was seized for the apartment and retirement. It is very important that the Human Rights Council include the examination of the lawlessness in which the Voice association and all other organizations are now. In addition, on May 16, a general meeting of the Council for Public Control in the Elections will be held. Public control will be discussed, as the law excluded it in the elections. Therefore, it is also very important to raise this issue. In general, can anyone be in these elections as observers from citizens, and not from parties?

- And what do you see the participation of “Voices” in the upcoming elections in the current conditions? ”

- Now, indeed, we are on the verge when we must determine what to do for ourselves, understanding what fines can we write to us ... They can bring them to a billion. We understand that we can no longer resist this lawlessness. Either the Human Rights Council helps us to recapture this attack and save the “voice” in these elections, or ...