Brest-based journalists: Man who attacked us worked as policeman and took part in provocations
Independent journalists Ales Lyauchuk and Milana Kharytonava identified the man who attacked them. Earlier, during his service in the police in the Belarusian city of Brest, he was involved in a provocation against local activists. He was acting under cover of a civilian.
On June, 1 Ales Lyauchuk and Milana Kharytonava were filming a story about the dangers of smoking. During their filming of a video reportage, a kid started to interfere in the process. Milana Kharitonava made a harmless remark, but the boy’s father attacked them trying to snatch the camera from Ales Lyauchuk and strike him to the ground. The police intervened, taking journalists to the police station.
Later it turned out that the attacker was Uladzimir Burshtyn, 35, who comes from Malaryta district, Brest region. In 2011, Burshtyn was engaged in arranging a provocation, Radio Liberty reports:
“A heavy fine (770,000 Br) for disobedience to the police and unsanctioned actions – such a sentence was given by Leninski district court of Brest to civil activist Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk. Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk was detained by criminal investigator Uladzimir Burshtyn in Brest on March, 26. On his day off he was passing in civilian clothes along the Central market of Brest, saw a white-red-white flag on the stand and started chasing after Palina.”
Palina recognised Burshtyn on photos and told belsat.eu about the incident:
“After the 2010 elections are still a lot of people in prison. We, indifferent people, were holding a picket near the Central market. A white-red-white flag with portraits of political prisoners was attached to the stand. A man holding a bag (later he turned out to be that Burshtyn), was watching the action and then started chasing after me. He grabbed me and would not let go until the police patrol arrived. On his day off Burshtyn was doing shopping, but when he saw our national flag, e started chasing after me. He said he did not want his colleagues to have some problems due to the flag. He behaved very arrogantly, and when the police arrived he told that I was waving my arms and swearing.”
But in court, he gave different testimony. Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk said Uladzimir Burshtyn left the impression of a shifty character.
“I did not want to believe that this was a blatant provocation, and even with a child,” journalist Milana Kharytonava says. “He used his child as a smoke screen, he was more concerned about our having accreditation, press cards and shooting permit than about his child’s feelings. And then he even offered the police to confiscate our camera. He behaved arrogantly and confidently, grabbed me by the arms, tried to take our equipment away. My colleague and I decided not to report to the police hoping that media coverage would make Burshtyn reflect over bringing up a child. But it is a pity that the police cannot do anything with a man who believes he has the right to run around the city, look for ‘criminals’ and detain people whom he conidered offenders. I fear that tomorrow he might decide that has the right to act as a surgeon.”
Burshtyn tried to organise an investigation into the ‘case’, Ales Lyauchuk said.
“According to our information, on June 2, Burshtyn demanded footage from surveillance cameras in store ‘Almi’, where we had worked the day before. Naturally, they refused,” the independent journalist says.
Lyauchuk stresses that Burshtyn began to send letters to newspapers playing the victim and trying to discredit all independent media and the opposition. His appeal was published only on the website of the Brest City Executive Committee. It is not the first time that this news resource has badmouthed throws mud those who do not support the regime.
After leaving his job in the police, Burshtyn started working as a cameraman shooting weddings and corporate parties.
