Mother still seeking details in jail death case

Zhanna Ptsichkina, the mother of Ihar Ptsichkin who died in Minsk’s jail in Valadarski Street in August 2013, has been allowed to see the results of a new examination of her dead son’s body carried out in a re-opened criminal case. The investigation continues, but the woman still faces a ban on disclosing any details.

“It’s been three weeks already since the results of the examination were ready, but they won’t let me take any photos or copy anything, I can only copy by hand. And everything is so confusing there that even the lawyer said that the conclusions are not quite clear. And, after I read this I realized one thing: drug addicts and alcoholics do not live long, and that my son died from some painful symptoms and the doctor could not have helped. But it is also noted that the doctor did everything wrong, but even if Ihar had been taken to hospital, he still would have died. Yet, an earlier examination showed that he was not a drug addict or an alcoholic. So where is the truth? I still do not understand why they hide everything. I think that the case is being shelved on purpose,” said the victim’s mother.

Now Zhanna Ptsichkina is waiting for an official conclusion in the case and wants to go to court.

Ihar Ptsichkin, 21, died in prison on August 4, 2013. He was serving a three-month arrest for driving without a license.