Defenders of people or Lukashenka's men? Belsat TV video on occasion of Belarus Police Day

On the occasion of he professional holiday of the Belarusian police Belsat TV has made a video showing everyday working life of the country’s law enforcers. Interestingly, when detaining protesters in the streets, they often wear plainclothes and treat citizens as mud.

On March 4, 1917 a civilian commander of Minsk appointed Bolshevik Mikhail Frunze to the position of the interim police chief of All-Russian Land Union for keeping of public order in Minsk.

That day is considered to be the birthday of the Belarusian police. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka approved it by his decree in 1998.

Read also: Belarus entrepreneurs shield opposition leader from police (video)

Since the beginning of the year, there have been several high-profile scandals for the Belarusian police. In January, tut.by journalist Pavel Dabravolski who was covering the ‘graffiti case’ was beaten by plain-clothed police officers in the building of a court in Minsk . In Brest region, a road police officer insulted a driver saying ‘F*ck you’ but remained unpunished.

In early February, Alyaksandr Lukashenka reiterated that the country’s law enforcement agencies should do their best to improve their public image and strive for being liked by citizens.

Read also: ‘Polite people’: How Minsk police prevent Belarus journos from working (video)

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