Sudden change of investigator in criminal case against BPF activsits

The activists of the Belarusian Popular Front Maksim Hubarevich, Ales Kalita and Siarzhuk Semianiuk who are suspected within the framework of a criminal case concerning “hooliganism, committed by a group of persons”, found about it after receiving a telephone call from investigator Patapava, who wanted to inform them about the upcoming confrontation with a witness. According to the law, the youngsters were to have been acquainted with the ruling about the appointment of a new investigator.

“According to the new investigator, Patapava, she is the only investigator in the case now. As stating to her, the investigative group, which consisted of two persons, was dissolved, after which she was put in charge of the case. However, she didn’t have the case materials at her disposals, as she had passed them to her brass,” commented Ales Kalita.

The confrontation that was conducted on 14 September contradicted to the legal procedure. “A confrontation can be held if there are contradictions between the testimonies of the sides. However, as far as I and my comrades refused to give any testimonies, there couldn’t be any contradictions. Secondly, the investigator used the explanations that had been taken before the initiation of the criminal case, but explanations cannot be considered as testimonies. That’s why there are certain questions about the competence of the investigator, which we told her before the beginning of the confrontation,” added Kalita.

According to the suspects, the summonsed witness didn’t give any testimonies that could be used against them, though the investigator asked her many leading questions, which is directly prohibited by the legislation.