Three months since fatal beating of Raman Bandarenka. Mother insists on publishing any info related to death
Alena Bandarenka, the mother of killed protester Raman Bandarenka, is seeking to take part in the hearings of the case of TUT.by journalist Katsyaryna Barysevich and doctor Artsyom Sarokin.
On February 8, Ms Bandarenka filed a corresponding appeal with the chairman of Maskouski district court of Minsk.
“I consider it necessary to be personally involved in the trial of Artsyom Sarokin and Katsyaryna Barysevich, because it is directly related to my son,” she told TUT.BY.
According to the woman, no one but her has the right to give consent to other people’s digging into into the circumstances around the death of her only son.
“I have repeatedly asked for that before, and now I simply insist that full publicity be given to any information linked to my son, including that about his death,” Alena Bandarenka stressed.
The trial of Barysevich and Sarokin is to start on February, 19 in the House of Justice in Minsk.
TUT.BY reporter Katsyaryna Barysevich was arrested on November, 19 after the Prosecutor General’s Office opened a criminal case over allegedly ‘violating medical privacy which entailed grave consequences’ (Art. 178-3). If found guilty, she may be sentenced to up to three years of imprisonment.
In her article about the tragic death of Minsker Raman Bandarenka, Barysevich referred to doctor Artsyom Sarokin who gave her medical records which showed that there had been no alcohol in the blood of the victim. Its authenticity was later confirmed by Bandarenka’s mother. Government officials, including Alyaksandr Lukashenka, claim that Raman Bandarenka, who was beaten to death by unknown individuals on November 11, was in a state of intoxication. Notably, Raman Bandarenka’s mother allowed the publication of information about the death, including the data about the absence of alcohol in his blood.
Neither Sarokin nor Barysevich had been prosecuted before, the both Belarusian citizens have a permanent place of residence in the country as well as full-time employment. Their employers and colleagues gave excellent references to them. The judge and investigators are well aware of Artsyom Sarokin’s being a father of three and Katsyaryna Barysevich’s raising a minor daughter alone, but still, the strictest restraint measure (incarceration) was applied.
Belarusian and international human rights watchdogs have recognised Sarokin and Barysevich as political prisoners. They consider the persecution to be politically motivated.
Bandarenka’s murderers have not been found or identified yet. No criminal case has been initiated over his death either. His family does not have any claims against the arrested journalist and doctor.
