Vitsebsk: pressurization of police inspector Andrei Levinau increases

Recently the police inspector of Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk Andrei Levinau has got his initiative group registered. He intends to run for parliament at Chyhunachnaya electoral district #19 in Vitsebsk.

The police administration decided to punish the police inspector for this initiative. At first they checked his work, but no pretensions were found. Then a disciplinary case was brought against Levinau on the basis of several cases on which he had decided not to bring any criminal proceedings.

On 8 August at 4 pm a group of policemen headed by the lieutenant-colonel Pranko came to police station #1 of Chyhunachny district police department. The police captain Zakharau closed the door and started yelling that Levinau had assaulted him, tore off one of his shoulder straps and tore his shirt. However, there was no factual evidence to support his words.

Following this lieutenant-colonel Pranko summonsed the administration of Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk. When the deputy head of the police department, major Shastou came, Pranko demanded that he dismissed Levinau and made him surrender his government-issue weapon and police certificate. Captain Levinau said that Pranko had no powers for confiscation of his pistol and certificate. However, he could not implement the instructions of Shastou according to the legal norms (he was to have passed the weapon and the certificate to the duty policeman at the police department). The present police officers did not let him out of the police station. That’s why he had to surrender the pistol and the certificate to his boss, major Shastou.

The following day captain Levinau was directed to implement his duties weaponless. Being asked how he could do it without a pistol, major Shastou answered: ‘Then sit in the police station and pick your nose’.

Human rights activists for free elections