Police Seek Missing Belarusian Activist

BABRUYSK, Belarus -- A missing opposition activist in eastern Belarus is now officially being sought by police, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.

Dzmitry Toustsik, an opposition United Civic Party activist in the town of Babruysk, has been missing since December 6, one day after police searched his apartment and reportedly found illegal drugs.

His wife, Alena Toustsik, told RFE/RL that she was summoned to police on December 9 and informed that her husband is now wanted by police as a criminal case had been launched against him.

She added that the investigator declined to give any details about the case.

Alena Toustsik said that her husband called her on December 5 and informed her that police searched their dwelling and found some dried leaves in a children's book that he thinks they will claim are a drug or an illegal substance.

"[On December 6)] they summoned him to the police again and I have not heard from him since then," she said. "Police say they do not have him. I do not know what to do. On Monday [December 5], a woman came to visit me...and said that from now on our family will be included in a registry of families that have violated administrative regulations."

Read more in Belarusian here