"Fired!": Minsk Residents Called the Head of the Frunzenski District "on the Carpet"

The official was asked uncomfortable questions.

At school number 16 on Tuesday, October 20, an off-site meeting with the Frunzensky district administration head, Siarhei Shkrudneu, took place. This format implies a personal reception in the office and not a general meeting in the assembly hall. People had different information on this, so the beginning of communication was stormy. Most of the residents left the meeting when they realized that it would be held individually, and some stayed to ask questions. What Shkrudneu thinks about the security officials in balaclavas, the death of Tarajkouski, a so-called spontaneous memorial on Pushkinskaya, as well as the official's quotes on other topics are in the material of tut.by.

"There will be no circus"

Residents of the Frunzenski district of Minsk began to gather for a meeting at 6 pm and were sure that an assembly hall would be allocated for the meeting. On the spot, they learned that the event would be held in a small office; people were outraged, they asked for a large room, but the school administration refused.

Shkrudneu explained that this is an off-site meeting, and the mass meeting, in his opinion, is unsafe due to the coronavirus.

- We go in one by one; there will be no circus. It will not be constructive; I see that you are not in the mood for dialogue today," said Shkrudneu when dozens of people surrounded him at the door of the office for the reception.

- We are not in the mood! - people answer in chorus. They explained that they wanted to listen not to someone's retelling but to his answers.

People answer Shkrudneu's question: "Who has questions?"

For those who disagree with this format, the official advised going home. People began to persuade the head of the district to talk to everyone at once: "Talk to us." The official continued to insist on his version of the meeting and went into the office; the people followed him.

The conversation between local residents and the official was in a raised voice - obviously, people had a lot of questions for the authorities. At that moment, a representative of the school moved up to Shkrudneu and said: "If anything, the police are ready to come at any time." We didn't have to wait long - two policemen were already waiting in the lobby.

People who decided not to discuss issues in person went home, while some shouted to the head of the district: "You are fired!" About 10 people remained in the corridor at the door. If the local resident didn't mind, the press and everyone listened to the conversation at the door.

One of the first participants in the conversation asked to solve the problem with a dry leaning tree near its entrance by the road and replace the Alkomarket store sign near the school and kindergarten. Shkrudneu promised to investigate.

Broken stand and the answer to the question about coronavirus

When one of the women enters the office, a crash is heard. It turned out that when she was approaching Shkrudneu, she accidentally caught on the plastic file of the stand - it cracked.

- You broke the stand! Journalists, have you taken a photo or video? - asks Shkrudneu and his assistant from the school.

- What I broke here... Do you know how much money I invested in this school? I have three children here. I bought curtains, boards, and chalk - I bought everything, do you understand? The head of the administration will repair it," the woman replies, without giving her personal information to the official's assistant.

Then several people enter the office and meet behind closed doors. The rest are discussing issues that concern those present, in front of everyone.

A question from a local about the coronavirus.

- If we are told that there is no such infection, and there are no restrictions at the official level, children go to school, we do not take such measures as in other countries. We have no restrictions on meetings, but for some reason, we are taking measures such as "let's not communicate with the head of the Frunzenski district," says one of the local.

- You say that we do not do anything. At our school today, we have a temperature regime; we have disinfectants used, handrails, door handles cleaned, and masks used. All activities aimed at preventing the transmission of infectious diseases are carried out at the school as well. In common areas of use - in shops, shopping centers - social distancing is encouraged.

- We are limited today for a mass event, but if the situation improves, then the meeting will be for sure like it was before all these events, - said Shkrudneu.

He suggests that more stringent restrictions may arise with high rates of coronavirus incidence.

About people in balaclavas: "Do they offend you?"

A question from a resident of the district about unknown people in masks who run through the streets. People think that this is a violation of public order. They say they are afraid to go out.

- Do you go to the store and are afraid that they will take you, or when crossing the road through Matusevich? Minibusses? Let them drive, what's the problem? Do they offend you? Did they threaten you somehow? <…> If they testify [at the court in balaclavas] or are traveling, it means, perhaps, their internal documents allow that. I'm not investigating those people who drive. If they go and make comments to you, then I can assume that these are operational services that protect civilians. They don't just drive around the area. Perhaps where there are offenses, massive unauthorized events - perhaps you see them there. I don't think they don't introduce themselves.

Shkrudneu gave a personal example and said that the police officers also turned to him and asked to show his documents. He showed and everything ended well.

Shkrudneu said that he had noted these questions for himself. People asked for the unknown in balaclavas to be removed from the streets.

- As long as we have massive meetings, illegal festivities... As I can assume, these are operational services that carry out patrolling, including assistance to our police department in order to prevent violations. I'm sure of it. Another question is that these massive demonstrations of yours with symbols around the district... You should not be afraid if you do not violate today's legislation.

The head of the district also explained to local residents that the operatives are not identified for their safety. In addition, at the meeting, he was more than once indignant that the personal data of the security officials appeared in the telegram channels.

"From the realm of fantasy: the police breaks down in a different direction, there are no criminals, they just ran"

Also, local residents complained that on August 10 they became eyewitnesses, when security officials came running into the courtyard where nothing was happening and threw flash-noise grenades. A grenade hit a balcony of the residents of the Frunzenski District and knocked out the windows.

- Noone filed a complaint about this. If people are happy with everything today, with whatever flies to them, they don't worry about themselves, and I don't know about it. <…> As I understand it, the policemen who ran there prevented those actions so that they would not appear later. <…> You see, this is from the realm of fantasy: the police break down in the other direction, there are no criminals, and they just ran. This is nonsense, - said Shkrudneu.

The head of the district said that at one of the meetings with local residents, two guys turned to him, showed the beatings, and asked where to go.

- I advised them competently where and how to write a complaint. Nobody else came, only these two. They tell a lot; I have trips in every part of the district, you can come, show something, tell your story. If people show that they recorded the beatings, but did not react to them, then at least I will clarify this situation, - the head of the district promised.

"Symbolism." About protests and hanging flags

At the meeting, they also talked about rallies, as well as hanging white-red-white flags, tying white-red-white ribbons. Shkrudneu called all this the word "symbolism."

- I do not violate the law; I do not go to these massive unauthorized events, according to which, as you say, they beat you there, run into the yards, disturb the peace of other citizens who do not do this. But all this is initiated by people who go around and violate the law with their massive adventures, hanging all kinds of symbols. Not everyone likes them. Do you like them?

The locals clarified which law violates the hanging of "symbols."

- It should correspond to the interests of all citizens, not just a certain group. Therefore, you can decorate the walls at home, hang symbols, but not in public places. If it is in your apartment, it does not violate anything. If it is hung out in the courtyard territory, it violates the law, Articles 21.13 (Violation of the architectural solution of the facade of a building or structure), 21.14 (Violation of the rules for the improvement and maintenance of settlements), 21.16 (Violation of the rules for the use of residential premises) of the Administrative Code. Well, including the article on picketing, - Shkrudneu closed this topic.

About Tarajkouski and the memorial. "This is not a spontaneous memorial - this is an incomprehensible laying on of flowers."

One of the local residents asked the head of the district to express his opinion on the death of Aliaksandr Tarajkouski near the Pushkinskaya metro station on August 10. Let us remind you that his death certificate says that the main cause of death was an open wound of the chest, and he died from massive blood loss.

- And where did you get the information that he was killed by the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? The fact that people are dying is bad. From a human point of view... Education does not allow me to be at such dubious events, and I anticipate my children for these dubious events, which, of course, were organized by someone. Perhaps there were people who walked with peaceful intentions, but some of them were provocateurs. What was he doing there? I didn't stand there next to him. So far, I have information from the police, which is in the public domain, that he had an explosive device. My personal attitude is that he should have been with his wife, with that child, he should not have jumped on the police. <…> An explosive device exploded on him. Why do you think that no criminal case has been opened? I have not seen the initiated case, but I am saying that it should be in accordance with the law. By law, for any death, a criminal case is initiated.

Shkrudneu said that he would make an inquiry whether a criminal case was initiated on the death of Tarajkouski.

People also asked about the spontaneous memorial on Pushkinskaya, which arose after the death of Tarajkouski.

- Spontaneous, let's say, the laying of flowers. You call it a "memorial," I do not recognize this memorial. So far, this is an incomprehensible laying of flowers, - explains the head of the district.

According to him, the flowers are regularly removed "for the purpose of restoring order," as they violate this order.

- And what, should they lie-roll on the sidewalk? As for the grief, the laying of flowers - there is a grave where he is buried. There are specially marked places where you can put flowers. And here people walk, some of them - the minority, probably, laying flowers. Others do not like this imposition. This is not the question. The sidewalk is meant to be walked on. I don't think there is a memorial there. I do not think this place should be legalized. Because such death occurred due to unlawful actions, says Shkrudneu.

He also believes that most of the district's residents will be against the memorial.

By the end of the meeting, the intensity, of course, subsided, but people still continued to ask questions related to the election results, protests, and security officials. The meeting lasted over three hours.