Investigative Committee suspends check into death of Belarusian killed in protests

The check into Alyaksandr Taraykouski’s case was suspended by the Minsk department of the Belarusian Investigation Committee, TUT.BY reports citing lawyer Alvina Minhazava.

Although there are witnesses to the man’s death, no criminal case has not been opened yet.

“The Investigative Committee refers to Art. 173-3 of the Criminal Code of Belarus. Under this article, a check may be suspended on the grounds of the lack of response to an international request; non-receipt of the results of examinations or probes into financial and economic activities,” the lawyer said.

It is still unknown what caused the suspension of the check.

Alyaksandr Taraykouski, a 34-year-old resident of Minsk, died during the crackdown on protesters at Pushkinskaya metro station on August, 10. His death was officially confirmed by the authorities, but many people doubt the official version. According to the Interior Ministry, the man was about to throw an improvised explosive device at the security officers, but it exploded in his hand.

In mid August, the Associated Press news agency published a video of Taraykouski’s death. The video shows flashes from law enforcement shots and a man in shorts and a T-shirt with a large bloody stain on his chest. He holds on to the wound with his hand and then falls to the ground. The video clearly shows no explosives in the protester’s hands. Alyaksandr Taraykouski’s wife identified him in this footage.

There are other deaths linked to post-election protests (Henadz Shutau, Mikita Kryutsou, Alyaksandr Vikhor, Kanstantsin Shyshmakou, Artsyom Parukou).

On November 12, Minsker Raman Bandarenka the man died after several hours of surgery in a hospital in Minsk due to serious injuries which were allegedly caused by the brutality of plainclothed policemen.

belsat.eu