Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Swiss Appeal Reopens Case Over Belarusian Forced Disappearances
A Swiss court is reviewing the acquittal of Yuri Harauski, a former Belarusian security official.
The case concerns three men who disappeared in Belarus in 1999.
Harauski said he helped detain the men but denied killing them or ordering their deaths.
He previously said that members of the SOBR police unit took the men away and shot them.
A Swiss court acquitted him in 2023 because it said his changing statements did not legally prove his role.
Lawyers now disagree about whether poor translations caused some of the confusion.
The families of two missing men want the acquittal overturned.
The case is important because it is the first Swiss case involving alleged crimes in Belarus under universal jurisdiction.
The appeal court is expected to decide in the coming weeks.
Yuri Harauski is appealing his 2023 Swiss acquittal over three 1999 disappearances in Belarus.
Harauski admitted involvement in detaining Yuri Zakharenko, Viktor Gonchar and Anatoly Krosovsky but denied ordering or carrying out their murders.
Lawyers disputed whether contradictory statements resulted from mistranslations or made Harauski appear unreliable.
Relatives of two disappeared men brought the appeal with support from Trial International, the International Federation for Human Rights and Viasna.
The St. Gallen court is expected to issue its appeal verdict in the coming weeks.
- Who
- Yuri Harauski, a former Belarusian security official, is the defendant; relatives of two disappeared men brought the appeal.
- What
- A Swiss court is hearing an appeal against Harauski’s acquittal over alleged involvement in three forced disappearances.
- When
- The appeal began on Tuesday, September 22; Harauski was acquitted in 2023.
- Where
- The appeal is being heard at a cantonal court in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
- Why
- The relatives and supporting rights groups seek accountability and judicial recognition for the disappearances.
Appeal Supporters
Defense and Acquittal Rationale
Whether Harauski’s role was proven
Appeal Supporters
Relatives and human-rights groups argue that the appeal should establish accountability for the three disappearances and recognize alleged abuses linked to Belarusian authorities.
Defense and Acquittal Rationale
The original court ruled that Harauski’s role was not legally proven because he made contradictory statements at different times.
Cause of contradictory testimony
Appeal Supporters
The plaintiff’s lawyer said incorrect translations, including poorly translated military terms, created an inaccurate impression of Harauski’s statements and knowledge.
Defense and Acquittal Rationale
Harauski’s lawyer said the translation problems made her client appear to be a liar; the defense continues to challenge the interpretation of his testimony.
Belarusian government responsibility
Appeal Supporters
Human-rights campaigners say the case offers an opportunity to have serious alleged crimes of President Alexander Lukashenko’s government recognized in court.
Defense and Acquittal Rationale
The original court said the Belarusian government’s role could not be established beyond reasonable doubt because it was not represented in the proceedings.
- Defendant
- Yuri Harauski, a former official in Belarus’s SOBR special police unit
- Disappeared men
- Yuri Zakharenko, Viktor Gonchar and Anatoly Krosovsky
- Original ruling
- A Swiss court acquitted Harauski in 2023
- Appeal venue
- A cantonal court in St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Key dispute
- The parties disagree over whether mistranslations contributed to contradictory statements
- Universal jurisdiction
- The case is the first Swiss court case involving alleged crimes committed in Belarus under this principle
- Potential sentence
- Up to 20 years in prison if Harauski is convicted
- Supporting organizations
- Trial International, the International Federation for Human Rights and Viasna