Entrepreneur Beaten to Death by Brest Police?

Relatives of 32-year-old Andrei Tarasenka do not believe in an accredited medical conclusion.

On April 29, Andrei Tarasenka, a 32-year-old resident of Brest, died at the Brest hospital, Belsat informs.

According to an official version, pneumonia caused the death. Relatives of Andrei do not believe in this version. They claim that a week before the death the man was severely beaten by policemen .

"His chest and stomach were covered with hematomas. When an ambulance arrived and took off his t-shirt to make a cardiogram, everything was blue," Tatstsyana Melnichuk, mother of Andrei Tarasenka, recalls.

It all began in mini-cafe "Na Yasenevoj" on April 23.

Then Andrei Tarasenka was taken to a police station. A fight was the ground for detention, according to the police. However, the staff of the cafe did not confirm it. According to relatives of the dead, policemen severely beat him.

"They called an ambulance. He was already beaten. Doctor told us. Andrei was taken to hospital No. 6. In the waiting room it was also confirmed that Andrei had bodily injuries," Andrey's widow, Marina Tarasenka, says.

Doctors insist that alcohol is to blame

Relatives have concerns about conclusions made by doctors. Patient history was suddenly expanded with information that Andrei allegedly suffered alcohol addiction.

Relatives of Andrei Tarasenka consider conclusions of doctors as a mockery and an attempt to hide the truth.

"The person with business, two children and driving lisense cannot do this!", Marina Tarasenka says.

The Investigative Committee continues the inspection

"According to the introductory conclusions of the medical examination, the cause of death is not violent, but is caused by a disease. Within the framework of the proceedings, medical documentation was confiscated, an interview of relatives, neighbors and acquaintances of the man is made to establish events prior to hospitalization. Circumstances, which have led to bodily injuries ar being investigated," the Investigative Committee says.

It is noteworthy that relatives of the dead are actively persuaded not to file applications for initiation of criminal proceedings. Andrey's mother and widow have decided to turn to the media and human rights activists after watching the material about the beating of two young people at the police station, who were also detained in a cafe in Brest.

"I watched the story about that guys and all puzzles came together. I'm sure that he died not from pneumonia, but from beatings," Andrei's widow believes.

Who will be responsible for his death?

Now his relatives intend to prove their version. The main goal is to bring to justice those responsible for the death of Andrei.

"We have two little children. What should we do now? My life has stopped. But I want the truth. I gave him a promise when standing near his coffin: I will prove your innocence, son," Andrei's mother says.

Relatives of Andrei Tarasenka can take a long way

"First, there is a need to contact prosecutor's office and collect evidence that Andrei was a victim of violence of the police. Second, it will take a lot of efforts to find witnesses and record what had happened during the detention and the health state of the person at the police station," human rights activist Andrei Bandarenka explains.

Disclosure of such cases is more likely an exception in Belarus

Only one case of violence in detention facilities has been taken to court in recent years. Others are hidden under the carpet. It is important that victims of the police lawlessness quite rarely turn to independent media and human rights activists.