THE PROOF
CASE HISTORY
FAMILY PHOTO
LUKASHENKO HUMOR PAGE
STATEMENTS OF DIMA'S WIFE
INTERVIEW OF DIMA'S MOM
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OLGA GREGOREVNA
ORT cameraman Dmitry Zavadsky went missing ON July 7, 2000.. He disappeared off the street under mysterious circumstances: he drove to the airport to meet his friend Pavel Sheremet, arriving on Moscow flight, and hasn't been seen ever since. Police came up with all different versions, premeditated murder being one of them. However, the authorities provided no official information in this regard. Let's hope soon we will learn the names and motives of those who orchestrated Dima's abduction. How can it be that these thugs remain unpunished? They caused so much grief and pain to Dima's loved ones. His mum, wife and son have all been living in great terror for the past 8 months. I always sought an occasion to talk to Dima's mother. But I feared going to someone, who's in so great sorrow - we somehow get embarrassed by another person's grief, not knowing how to behave and what words of consolation to tell him. Our conversation with Olga Grygorievna lasted for 4 hours. Four hours of non-stop monologue. And to my surprise I realized that I felt quite comfortable - I wish I overcame this my fear earlier.
"I believe Dima was kidnapped by secret services" - - "I feel that my son is alive. And I'm only guessing how they will return him. That's the question - how?";
"I'm convinced that someone powerful is behind the abduction."
People say the world is small. Recently my two nieces went to dine in a restaurant. They sat at the table and started chatting. One of them heard some people talking behind her back at the neighboring table about Sheremet and pronounced Dima's name. One of their phrases sounded very much like this: "How come we, law-enforcers, can't reach a deal? Why didn't we give him a chance to get out?" What did he meant by saying that? These were three men in civilian clothes. They noticed that their conversation aroused certain interest at the nearby table and changed the subject. My nieces took notice of their car - white "Volga" with official plates. Strange as it may sound but later I saw the same vehicle on Volodarskaya street, entering the gates of the Border Control Committee.
"Over the last year we received many strange phone calls" - - Two days prior to Dima's disappearance there came a phone call. The caller introduced himself as Andrei Akimov, saying that he's just arrived from Moscow and want to see Dima in order to pass some stuff to him. He called Dima's apartment, which Dima never lived in. He was an owner, though. So, I thought, may be they located him via computer. I told him: my son lives in a different place, here's his office number (I never gave his home one).
Afterwards, one fortune-teller asked me: who is Andrei? By that time I've already forgotten about his call. Then the lady went on to say: Andrei knows where your son is. I tried to find this man. But there was nobody in my son's circles, bearing such last name. Of course, that could be a phony name.
Throughout this year we received numerous strange calls. But the last one was real scary. They frequently call his apartment and hang up as soon as I pick up the receiver.
"I don't want such evidence"
In the beginning of the year we got a phone call from some freelance photo-correspondent, who asked for a meeting. I met him and he said that he knows where I can find pieces of my son's body. He also called his wife. I don't need such well-wishers and such information.
"Wait for me"
I was invited to this TV program at the request of ORT journalists. And I set off. I realized that Russia is a different country. But Dima was an ORT cameraman, so may be something will get clarified. In my situation I can't waste any chance available. But following the program broadcasting we only got a few calls from some frauds, who wanted to earn easy money by offering us blank video-tapes.
Later I got another call from the "Here and Now" Russian TV program and was invited to participate in it. However, Belarusian TV refused to provide studio for the recording and the HN host Alexander Lubimov communicated to me live on phone. At that moment they had Pavel Borodin in their program, dedicated to the Russian-Belarus integration. Lubimov said literally this: you're resolving economic and social issues, but how about political ones? Right now we have Dmitry Zavadsky's mother on the phone. "Can she address you?" Borodin answered: "Please, do" Then I wrote him a letter.
Soon after this program Lukashenko made staff rearrangements among his top security service personnel. In my turn, I appealed to the attention of Vladimir Putin, Ural Latypov and Alexander Lukashenko. The former was the only one to respond. His secretary called us and invited to meet president's aide.
"President's aide told me nothing special"
I met with president's aide Vladimir Makeev. He never told me anything concrete. Just general phrases: the president is alarmed by Dmitry's destiny, he's a good guy, he likes him, detectives are investigating, efforts are applied, facts are checked out. I knew they united the investigating crew and that procedures on Dima's case are held not only by the country's transport procuracy. So I asked him who these people were. He was taken by surprise by this my question, but promised to find that out for me. May be he was confused or simply unaware...
"I determined to go to the Interior Minister Naumov"
A few times I visited the investigator. I wasn't satisfied by the performance of detective Alexander Kerus. He, as many others, was involved in interrogations and investigation. The man seemed only interested in the personal affairs of my son, discrediting him. And I'm a mother. My child is missing. I come visit him and he tells me that my son simply fled with someone somewhere, you know. How could I bear that nonsense? Once they reduced Dima's wife Sveta to tears. She came home crying. Then I went to the investigator myself and rebuked him...
It was my personal decision to visit the Minister for the Interior Vladimir Naumov. I called his reception and asked whether he can meet me in his cabinet. And I asked the secretary: "Please, make sure I don't waste his time if he has nothing new to tell me."; She promised to call me back after lunch and did so. She told me that the Minister was waiting for me. I went to him the same day. I was so worried that I somehow came one hour before the appointment time, but he immediately invited me in his office. However, he told me nothing new. He confirmed that they discovered a spade, KGB agent mail and a letter from Mogilev but these have nothing to do with Zavadsky's abduction...
Just recently I ran across Naumov's declaration that there'll be no trial over Ignatovich. I thought they would try him, that new materials would emerge in press that there would arise another wave of public protests. But this never happened. They silenced it again...
I feel the authorities know something. I believe that only professionals could orchestrate this kidnapping. Amateurs would definitely fail...
"Common grief drew me and my daughter-in-law closer to each other"
Sveta loves my son. I see that. My brother's sisters, Marina and Natasha psychologically support her. My daughter likewise. We have a female company. My husband is gone, my brother died. And now Dima is missing too...
Dima got married very early. At 18. He approached me then and said: "mum, I decided to marry" That was his personal decision...
I never interfere in the lives of my children - that's just the type of a person I am. I can tell them something once, but never annoy.
";Dima - my beloved child"
My pregnancy was fine. Dima was born a healthy boy, weighing 4,5 kilos. But later he developed some health problems.
When he became a conscript and joined the ranks I was quite nervous. But I never asked for postponement of his military duty or anything.
I've got two children in my family. They were both born within a year's interval. Lena was an elder sister. They had difficult childhood, being on their own most of the time. I was always moonlighting, because dentists earned too little salaries back then.
Dima was a very easy-going and sociable person. At the graduation party, when they handed in diplomas, Dima was given the floor before the auditorium of school-leavers. Everyone started applauding him, greeting and shouting. Dima got his diploma from the hands of the district Komsomol Committee officials, though he had never been a komsomol member himself.
"Dima has lots of friends"
He ran school discos, purchased stereo equipment. Dima was always in the company of friends. They are still around. During the Grodno procedures, his friends often drove us there. Now they don't leave me too. Dima and his friends bought apartments in the same residential area. If something happens, they immediately arrive...
"Dima isn't talkative, may be, for this reason Lukashenko chose him to work for him"
We have many photo albums in the family. The pictures were made by Dima and his grandpa Vitya. He loved to look at the world through camera glass. From early childhood. When he grew up, my brother - Valery Grigoryevich Basov - filmmaker at the Belarusian TV, employed him as a cameraman.
After serving in the military Dima entered the Institute of Culture. He had good grades but soon gave up studies, telling me that it wasn't his calling.
Dima spent three years at the BT. First, he worked with the department for culture and then switched over to the ATN (agency of television news). We never spoke about politics at home, let alone discuss something. Dima has never been talkative and never discussed things with others. May be that's the reason why Lukashenko took him with himself.
After all, he moved to ORT. That was his and his wife's decision. Everything happened so quickly. He had just accompanied Lukashenko in Brest and next day they were in opposite corners. When Alexander Lukashenko noticed Dima working for ORT he said to him: "Where are you, Dima? You won't forget this!" Dima told me this.
When I learnt that Dima joined ORT I got really scared. I asked him then: What did you do, boy? Of course, they paid him more there and the professional level was different. I knew that when one lacks deep theoretical background he at least needs practice.
Later ORT folks told me that they had to re-train Dima a lot. They worked intensively there. It was so hard for him but he still made it. He was upset at times. I saw with my own eyes: he was walking to and fro, not saying a word, not complaining. But he did great job anyhow...
He loves his work. When they deprived him of his license in Belarus, he headed for Chechnya. I know how bad he felt about that, but he couldn't give it up.
"I almost never communicate with Sheremet"
Dima has been working with Pavel since the very first time he appeared on ORT. Before the tragedy happened I never met Sheremet. Even now we almost never communicate. I first saw him during the program "Wait for me". Sveta told me that he took my phone number a few times but never dialed it. Last time we met on August 28, Dima's birthday. He and other ORT colleagues visited his wife. Dima turned 28. He celebrated his 25th birthday in Grodno confinement jail. And I've no idea where he spent this one. His friends are telling me: Pavel is afraid to call you. I understand him. It's psychologically difficult for him to ring me. It's a bit easier to talk to Sveta.
"I'm waiting"
When Dima disappeared, we were only getting news from press and Belarusian ORT bureau.
When tensions were escalating, everything seemed unbearable. I felt as though I was driving mad. I had problems thinking. I was living my life as a robot. When my vacations ended and I returned to work, I couldn't do anything.
Then there started those interrogations. They would repeat same stuff over and over again... I felt a little at ease, because press released numerous coverage on Dima. Pavel Sheremet broadcast his documentary. Right now we live in some information vacuum, which sounds very alarming to me.
I'm still waiting. And somehow I feel that I'm not waiting in vain. January 1 a cat turned up at our apartment door. I left my flat to see off my nephew(HELLO, FB). On my return I found the door of the corridor wide open and this poor creature sitting there on the floor. Now he's living with us. We called him Kolya. People say it's a good sign? Dima will be back. I believe that.
Mary Acemont, Alex Silich
"Narodnaya Volya", March 14, 2001 .
