Andrei Sharenda: I Know First Hand How They Try To Take Children Away

Belarusian social services have turned into punitive bodies.

Children are taken away from Belarusians for non-payment of utility tariffs more often. Social services have turned into real punitive bodies. And it happens against the backdrop of a sharp rise in prices for housing and communal services.

The unprecedented measures of the Belarusian authorities have been commented on to Charter97.org by an activist of the European Belarus civil campaign, the Brest leader of the Belarusian National Congress, the father of two children, Andrei Sharenda:

– It's a tribute to stupid Soviet traditions. How could they take children away for debts? This is a kind of pressure on people – no more, no less. They want to make Belarusians work for nothing, not to let them go abroad. I have personally met with the cases when children were taken away. However, in my case, it was connected with my social activities. This is the worst thing that can happen. A crowd of completely unknown people barges into your flat, witnesses are called. As if you are a criminal.

– How can they apply such inhuman measures at all?

– This is no even in question in civilized countries. If a person cannot cope with the payment of utility tariffs – sort it out, help this person to regain feet. Of course, there are cases when parents suffer from alcohol dependence and need outside interference. But in this case we are talking about poor people who cannot pay utility bills. A lot of people have this choice: to buy food, or to pay for utility bills.

This problem is relevant for regions and rural areas, where the living standard is very low. Once I came across a situation: a young family, who had been brought up in an orphanage, got a social apartment. The young people could not find work, pay utility bills – and here you are, the children were taken away.