Not only opponents of the Belarusian state system feel it the hard way; people wearing uniforms who are supposed to serve this very system get pressed and pushed by it whichever way too. How smartly put the Naša Niva newspaper: ‘while suffocating to BHC you’ll turn for resuscitating.’
In this case human rights defenders are asked to defend suspects of the so-called ‘hunting’ case: police officers Baranau, Malayeu and Miniankou. They are under arrest by KGB and have been incarcerated in the KGB detention centre since April this year.
Wife of one of the arrested Liudmila Miniankova turned to BHC and OSCE with a plea ‘to make sure that the case is objectively considered by the authorities involved.’ “And what am I to do if the justice is nowhere to be found? If he [her husband] is guilty then prove it,” the woman said to journalists.
She also noted that in her husband’s view the ‘hunting’ case is nothing more than a mere provocation: “If he worked the way they work against him then there would be a reason to arrest my husband right away.”
BHC replied positively – the head of law commission Hary Pahaniaila was ready to help the plaintiffs: “If there are evidences of human rights violations, we will have to raise our voice in defence of people who suffered abuses from the state. We will find ways and means to address this situation in the prosecutor’s office.”
“We will address the society, including international organizations, when we discover concrete violations of human rights. We will be trying to find the exact information about this case and, depending on results, will inform civil society,” Mr Pahaniaila added.
Miniankou, Malayeu and Baranau are charged with abusing their positions of power intending personal gain, in accordance with art. 426.2 and 426.3 of the Belarusian Criminal Code. There are other suspects in the same case investigated for illegal hunting activities and lawless neglect while performing official duties.
According to the arrested policemen, they were detained for possessing information that could cast suspicions on the KGB personnel and the Homiel region officials.
At the moment the ‘hunting’ case is being processed by the Supreme Court of Belarus.
