Human rights activist asks Prosecutor’s Office to investigate police violence against football fans in Baranavičy

Human rights activist Siarhei Housha has filed a complaint in the Baranavičy District Prosecutor’s Office against employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who beat football fans outside the Lakamatyŭ stadium on May 3.

Siarhei Housha says that according to one of the fans riot policemen started to beat fans after the visiting team supporters tried to attack them, detaining the fans instead of coping with the assaulters. About 56 fans were detained and brought to the police department, where they were forced to sign statements saying that they had no claims to the police. The human rights defender suggests that such actions of the police clearly exceed the bounds of their rights and responsibilities and were committed intentionally to discredit the Interior Ministry and contribute to the formation of a false understanding of the government’s scope of authority.

Mr. Housha requests to investigate the facts and give a legal assessment of the actions of the police officers.