Mahiliou police unwilling to admit mistakes
Mr.
Baleika, head of the police department of Mahiliou regional executive committee,
says that the publication on the department’s website does not contain any defamatory
data and there are reasons for refuting it, instead of apologizing for a shameful article about human
rights defender Barys Bukhel.
Barys
Bukhel is more than surprised, since the information on him and Bykhau resident
Aliaksandr Shachanok is inaccurate and undermines their dignity, honor and
reputation.
"The
article about me and the administrative case of Aliaksandr Shachanok appeared on
the website of Mahiliou police department in response to an article that was
posted on the website of the Human Rights Center "Viasna". The
article told about how Shachanok become a victim of policeman Vital Vashchyla,
who fabricated his administrative case, which later fell apart in court,"
said Barys Bukhel.
The
human rights defender stresses that it took a year to “solve” the fraud charges
and bring the policeman to account.
"Aliaksandr
Shachanok learned about the charges brought against him only after he received
a summons to appear in court. He was
accused of allegedly beating his neighbor. In
court, seeing the file, he discovered that neither the signatures nor the
record by him and his wife in the transcript of interrogation was made with
their hands. The
case was dismissed on the grounds that there was not even a statement by the
victim," said Barys Bukhel.
This
was followed by four examinations of Aliaksandr’s handwriting and that of his
wife, which confirmed that the signatures and recording in the report were not
made by Aliaksandr Shachanok and his wife.
"The
policeman never admitted that he falsified the records – he claimed that the
signature and writing were made by Shachanok and his wife. Having
received no punishment for this, policeman Vashchyla managed once again to forge
the signature of Shachanok’s wife and trumped up the records of examination of
two other witnesses in an administrative case, which was initiated after a
complaint by Shachanok’s wife," said Barys Bukhel.
Struggling
for an adequate punishment for the corrupt policeman, Aliaksandr Shachanok
wrote complaints to various authorities, demanding prosecution of Vashchyla for
forgery of documents; he even was received by the Minister of the Interior.
As
a result, the dishonest police officer was fired, Bykhau district police chief Andreichykau
received a reprimand, and the head of department of law and order of the same police
department Anfisau was deprived of a monthly bonus, as reported in the letter from
head of the Main Department of Internal Affairs Melnik.
Another
complaint by Aliaksandr Shachanok regarding policeman Vashchyla is currently
under consideration and may be followed by a criminal investigation into the
falsification of documents.
"Are
these facts are not enough to admit one’s mistakes and apologize? After
the answer I and Shachanok are going to court to defend our honor, dignity and
business reputation and to ensure that the website publishes a rebuttal to previously
published information. As
yet, policemen only provide more occasions to write about their flaws,"
said Barys Bukhel.