IC Opened Criminal Case On Disappearance Of Boy In Belavezhskaya Pushcha

The search for 10-year-old Maksim Markhaliuk remains the most resonant one in Belarus.

The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal investigation into the disappearance of ten-year-old Maksim Markhaliuk in Svislach district. This was announced to journalists by IC chairman Ivan Naskevich today, tut.by reports.

– Today we opened a criminal case in accordance with the Art. 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code," – the IC head said.

He explained that if within 10 days after the official announcement the location of the missing person is not established, then the Part 2 of the Art. 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code makes it possible to take a decision to open a criminal investigation into the fact of an unknown disappearance.

According to him, today there is no evidence that the child, who disappeared in Svislach district, has become a victim of a crime.

The search for Maksim Markhaliuk remains the most resonant one in Belarus. The search operation in the Belavezhskaya Pushcha started on September 16. Yesterday, about 500 people worked on the site: volunteers, Ministry of Emergency Situations employees, police, foresters and local residents. The search continued in the area of the village of Novy Dvor, near the town of Tsiaraspal and in the forest, which adjoins the main road. The headquarters reported that the rescuers had already reached the maximum distance that the child could have managed to walk. Some areas were examined more than once.