Aleh Hulak: I saw dozens of beaten people at the Square
A Chairman of the Belarusin Helsinki Committee has commented the statement of Aliaksandr Barsukou, the first deputy head of the law enforcement administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Barsukou has said on air on ONT TV-Channel that that about 100 representatives of the law-enforcement bodies were injured during the events at the Independence Square on December 19, and only about a dozen of ordinary citizens. Euroradio: Is it true, that only 10 demonstrators were injured on December 19?
Hulak: "Speaking about what I saw personally, there were dozens of beaten people. That's what I saw. Not ten people. We know that, upon the results of questioning of people who served administrative detentions, dozens of people complained that they had been beaten and left without medical care in the detention center at Akrestsina street and other places of detention. Therefore, Barsukou's words sound weird".
Euroradio: How would you classify Barsukou's statement?
Hulak: "Unfortunately, this is not the first time when the officials behave like this in our country. Having seen such behaviour for many years, we can state that a whole system has established, when people do not even see any necessity and sense to complain about the police's actions. Because public prosecutors, and now even medical establishments, do their best not to let people get evidence against the policemen who acted like this. Their direct bosses, unfortunately, also cover up their misdemeanors, and all this means that the system is not going to get any better".
Euroradio: How to remind people about the law and their rights?
Hulak: "Human rights defenders try to do something in such conditions, try to help people. We keep saying that they need to complain, even if you don't get the result that you have expected, even if your rights are not granted, such complaints have sense as they influence the system.Human rights defenders are ready to help people, so, please, address to the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and other organizations. We will be glad to help you with anything we can. Of course, we cannot promise you a quick victory, a quick defense, but something needs to be done, I am convinced in this".
Euroradio: Has the Belarusian Helsinki Committee consulted anyone on the "December 19 case"?
Hulak: "We have consulted several people in this regard. Many people call asking for help in connection with these phone calls-invitations (if a mobile number was registered in the Independence Square area that night). Many people address with different issues which aroused after Square, including complaints about being beaten. However, it is obvious now that it's too late to record all this, as time has passed and it will be very difficult to prove there have been any injuries, and that they appeared as a result of those events and the police's actions. However, if someone has addressed to the medical establishments before and the injuries have been recorded, compalints can be filed even now".
Photo — svaboda.org
Hulak: "Speaking about what I saw personally, there were dozens of beaten people. That's what I saw. Not ten people. We know that, upon the results of questioning of people who served administrative detentions, dozens of people complained that they had been beaten and left without medical care in the detention center at Akrestsina street and other places of detention. Therefore, Barsukou's words sound weird".
Euroradio: How would you classify Barsukou's statement?
Hulak: "Unfortunately, this is not the first time when the officials behave like this in our country. Having seen such behaviour for many years, we can state that a whole system has established, when people do not even see any necessity and sense to complain about the police's actions. Because public prosecutors, and now even medical establishments, do their best not to let people get evidence against the policemen who acted like this. Their direct bosses, unfortunately, also cover up their misdemeanors, and all this means that the system is not going to get any better".
Euroradio: How to remind people about the law and their rights?
Hulak: "Human rights defenders try to do something in such conditions, try to help people. We keep saying that they need to complain, even if you don't get the result that you have expected, even if your rights are not granted, such complaints have sense as they influence the system.Human rights defenders are ready to help people, so, please, address to the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and other organizations. We will be glad to help you with anything we can. Of course, we cannot promise you a quick victory, a quick defense, but something needs to be done, I am convinced in this".
Euroradio: Has the Belarusian Helsinki Committee consulted anyone on the "December 19 case"?
Hulak: "We have consulted several people in this regard. Many people call asking for help in connection with these phone calls-invitations (if a mobile number was registered in the Independence Square area that night). Many people address with different issues which aroused after Square, including complaints about being beaten. However, it is obvious now that it's too late to record all this, as time has passed and it will be very difficult to prove there have been any injuries, and that they appeared as a result of those events and the police's actions. However, if someone has addressed to the medical establishments before and the injuries have been recorded, compalints can be filed even now".
Photo — svaboda.org
