Belarus KGB detains Ukrainian enterprise director

Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) agents detained the director of the Ukrainian enterprise from the city of Konstantinovka, Donetsk region. On 15 November, the 39-year-old Oleksandr Skiba arrived on a business trip to the Minsk Tractor Works, which buys some componets for tractor production from the Ukrainian company. He was scheduled to return to Ukraine on the samer evening. However, on the next day he called his wife from a Belarusian phone number and reported his detention. It remains unclear what he is being accused of, reports lb.ua.

The enterprise wrote a letter to Ukrainian Ambassador in Minsk Igor Kizim, asking to help to learn the fate of Oleksandr Skiba and assist in his release and return to the home country.

Ukraine Embassy's first secretary Maria Hutsala told Euroradio she would not comment on the situation yet, because "there are no precise information available." The Ukrainian diplomats are checking the reports.

In another earlier development, Belarusian KGB detained Ukrainian journalist Pavel Sharoiko. He is being detained in a KGB pretrial jail, facing espionage charges.