Code of silence: Belarus Interior Ministry neglects fact of police’s beating journalists


Independent journalist Milana Kharytonava appealed to the Interior Ministry and Kobryn district prosecutor’s office. She asked the authorities to assess the actions of six Kobryn policemen. 

On March 18, Milana Kharytonava and her husband Ales Lyauchuk, were brutally detained by unknown men in civilian clothes in Kobryn. Besides rough detention, the journalists had their professional equipment seized from them. Four protocols on administrative violations were drawn on them by the police.Thanks to the professional work of the journalist’s lawyer, almost all the equipment was later returned.

However, Minsk sent Kharytonava’s appeal to Brest regional police; Brest police officers assigned the case to… Kobryn police department. In fact, those who attacked the journalists are to deliver the decision on the legality of their use of physical force.

“Instead of carrying out an independent checking and identifying real offenders, the police give formal replies, which is laced with mockery,” Lyauchuk and Kharytonava say.

According to them, Belarusian law enforcers watch each other’s back.

“They made a very good move, i.e. authorizing those who helmed the illegal detention, ordered to use physical force against journalists and destroy evidence to respond to my appeal. Perhaps it is sort of mockery, and top police officials just want to discourage me from complaining? But this will not stop me, I will appeal against such a response, as well as that of Kobryn police department, their false testimony we have already heard in court,” Milana Kharytonava told Belsat TV.

On April 13, Kobryn district court imposed a fine of nearly 2,000 Belarusian rubles ($1,000) on them. Besides rough detention, the journalists had their professional equipment seized from them. Thanks to the professional work of the journalist’s lawyer, almost all the equipment was later returned.

belsat.eu

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