Klimavichy Court quashes termination of administrative proceedings against police inspector

On March 17, Judge Tatsiana Ivanenka of the Klimavichy District Court considered a complaint by a resident of the village Damamerychy Alena Marchanka who demanded to cancel a decision by Klimavichy police department of January 28 to dismiss the case against police inspector Vadzim Panasenka.

As a result, the judge ruled to reopen the investigation.

In her ruling, the judge stressed numerous irregularities in the decision to drop the administrative charges against junior district inspector Panasenka.

Alena Marchanka says she will seek prosecution of the police officer under Article 9.2 of the Administrative Code (defamation). Ms. Marchanka says that the District Court has issued a balanced decision, revoking the move of Klimavichy police department and sending the case file for a fresh consideration.

Earlier, Alena Marchanka requested to prosecute district inspector Panasenka for defamation, after on January 8, 2014 at a meeting of the administrative commission of the Klimavichy District Executive Committee the police officer publicly read out a written reference, which contained, according to Alena Marchanka, false and defamatory information. In particular, the local inspector characterized Alena Marchanka as being "prone to lies and slander”.

Alena Marchanka disagreed with this statement and quoted the fact that she had been never prosecuted under administrative, civil or disciplinary procedures for the dissemination of false or defamatory information.

Ms. Marchanka also cited an earlier reference of the same police officer, in which he characterized her as a calm and balanced person who was not involved in quarrels in the community, and no administrative sanctions were imposed upon her.