Updated at 13:45,15-04-2024

Baikova placed under house arrest

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The period of investigation of the criminal case against former investigator of the General Prosecutor’s Office has been extended until October 9.

Prosecutor General of Belarus Ryhor Vasilevich refused to extend a term of pretrial detention for investigator Svyatlana Baikova, Interfax-Zapad news agency learnt from the General Prosecutor’s Office.

"Baikova is at home now. Investigators have chosen house arrest as a pretrial restriction," the General Prosecutor’s Office noted.

The prosecutor general extended the period of investigation of the criminal case until October 9, 2010.

Baikova was detained in February 2010 and then arrested by the KGB. Until now, she has been kept in the KGB remand jail on charges with abuse of office. Baikova investigated a number of high-profile crimes.

The criminal case over part 1 of article 14 and part 2 of article 399 was opened in connection with investigation carried out by Baikova in the case of businessman Pavel Malochka accused of forming and taking part in a criminal group. According to materials of the investigation, the group smuggled goods of millions dollars through the Belarusian border.

According to the KGB preliminary investigation, Svyatlana Baikova illegally removed Malochka from the wanted list and persued an aim to release him from criminal responsibility. By the way, Malochka is a citizen of Germany and is protected by his country.

The second count (part 2 of article 399) concerns releasing three former customs inspectors from criminal responsibility. The investigator of the General Prosecutor’s Office applied article 20 of the Criminal Code to them because they had helped the investigation – told about a criminal group and helped to expose it.