Łukašenka claims Polish defector Czeczko was murdered in 2022
May 10, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka claimed on May 9 that Polish defector Emil Czeczko had been murdered, but would not elaborate whether any suspects have been identified.
It was the first official comment since 2022 on the mysterious death of the Pole who fled to Belarus and accused Polish soldiers of murdering migrants.
Speaking to journalists after the Victory Day ceremony, the Belarusian strongman said that he provided security for another Polish defector, former judge Tomasz Szmydt.
“We warned him [Szmydt] that you can give a news conference etc. but be careful you expose yourself to danger – they had murdered Czeczko,” the Belarusian ruler said.
The Belarusian Investigative Committee reported on March 17, 2022 that Czeczko was found hanged in his Minsk apartment. It has not released any updates on the investigation since then.
Back in March 2022, the committee said it considered all possible theories “including the violent nature of death.”
Belarusian authorities have treated Czeczko as a hero and even named a street after him. Polish officials were outraged that he was buried at the Polish military cemetery in Daŭhinava, Vilejka district, Minsk region.
“The burial of a traitor in the cemetery among Polish soldiers, heroes of the Second World War and the setting of the event – the casket draped with a white and red flag, a wreath with a ribbon and inscription: ‘For the Polish Soldier and Patriot – the Polish Nation’ was a Belarusian provocation,” said Stanisław Żaryn, spokesman for the minister-special services coordinator.
Żaryn noted that “in Poland, Czeczko has been shrouded in shame, and his reprehensible behavior has met with public condemnation.”
In December 2021, Czeczko, a soldier with the 11th Masurian Artillery Regiment of the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division, applied for political asylum in Belarus, saying he disagreed with “Poland’s policy in the migration crisis and inhuman treatment of migrants.”
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said after his defection that Czeczko had serious problems with the law and filed for resignation.
“He should never have been assigned to serve at the border. I demanded an investigation to find out who is responsible for this,” Błaszczak said.
Also read: Polish official outraged by defector’s burial at Polish World War II soldiers’ cemetery
- Security
Lithuanian lawyer convicted of spying for Belarus
- Economy
Rubel down 0.94 percent against US dollar at BCSE this week
- EconomyBiełstat: Belarusian companies’ CapEx up 4.4 percent in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
Belarusian tank crews to be drilled in Russia for one month
- PoliticsOpposition politician says Łukašenka responsible for forced transfers of 3,500 Ukrainian kidsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUS diplomat condemns Belarus 1 broadcast featuring jailed US lawyerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIllegal Belarus-EU crossings up 40 percent in SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: at least 17 arrested during raids in Viciebsk, Brest regionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Belarus: jailed US lawyer asks for pardon, reaches out to Harris and Trump
- PoliticsUN rights council to discuss Belarus on September 23The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Pinsk court to try journalist for protesting
- Politics
Belarusian bishop asks Pope Francis about regional peace
- SocietyInternational fund raises nearly €1.3 million for Belarus’ political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoE platform calls on Georgia to reconsider entry ban for Belarusian journalistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyArrests in Hłybokaje, StolinThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolitical prisoner Załatar released – ViasnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician grateful to EP for resolution on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMEPs urge EU to step up sanctions on MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Łukašenka meets with Donetsk separatist leader
- PoliticsŁukašenka says Minsk has “own standards” for presidential electionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
Rubel slides against US dollar, yuan at BCSE
- Politics
Cichanoŭskaja nominates new social security chief
- Politics
Opposition leader: white-red-white flag to fly over Belarus again
- PoliticsReprisals: teachers in focus over links to blacklisted education projectThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMEPs discuss resolution on Belarus' political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyLatvian national Asars arrested for drug smuggling – customs committeeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights defenders label 7 as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNames of all 37 recently pardoned prisoners knownThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁatuška receives solidarity prize in WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
Yandex Music takes down Tor Band songs