MINSK, 13 November (BelTA) – I instructed to take the investigation into the death of Roman Bondarenko under the strictest control, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with Belarusian and foreign political observers on 13 November, BelTA has learned.
“I offer my sincere condolences to the parents. When a person dies, it's bad. Especially a young man," the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said he inquired into the course of the investigation. "Yesterday I instructed the chairman of the Investigative Committee, and warned that this case will be under scrutiny. We need to investigate everything honestly and objectively,” he said. “This morning, when they started to throw accusations at the police once again, I called the Prosecutor General and instructed to take this criminal case or investigation under the strictest control. So that there will be no separate investigations by the police, by the Investigative Committee ... Although they are separate entities: the police and the investigative Committee. The task of the Prosecutor General's Office is to take it under control.”
The president told those present how the events developed and shared what is known as of today. "We have a new ‘tradition' here, which has developed for the past month or so, in these well-to-do neighborhoods. They display white-red-white flags and ribbons. They display them everywhere. They even stretched ropes from house to house and hung these things which we view as collaborationist pro-fascist flags. Because during the Great Patriotic War policemen went around shooting people wearing these armbands, under this flag. This flag was hung near the portraits of Hitler at all events. The historical footage is available. This is happening in our country that lost every third resident during the war. Imagine what the attitude to this is.”
“In these courtyards they were hanging those flags and ribbons, others who does not accept such things, were cutting them down. We have recently set up volunteer street patrols. I think there are about 500 of them in Minsk alone. They are also taking down these flags. As I was informed, they came to one of those courtyards to take down the flags. Those who live there and hung those ribbons (on fences, sports grounds) came out into the courtyard,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. “There were brawls before, but in this particular case there was a fight, a serious one. A protester called the police. When the police came, everyone ran away, as usual. This one [Roman Bondarenko] was injured or something. He was drunk. The Investigative Committee presented the findings on this case today. They presented all the documents. He was intoxicated. Of course, he was taken to the police station. On the way to the police station his condition worsened. An ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital,” he said.
“That was the case. I have asked to investigate the matter so that there is no more reason to cry everywhere about the violence of the law enforcers. Do the authorities need such things? No, we do not need this. We are fed up with all these events. As I have already told you we need to complete the harvest season, to provide people with food, to keep the economy running,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
“I have already said that they wanted to make Tikhanovskaya a sacred sacrifice. We did not let it happen. All this time they tried to find something else. Now, they have this young man. I would like to reiterate my sincere condolences to his family. The man perished," the president noted. “This is a bad case indeed. Fortunately, the only one, although we cannot speak in such a manner about people's lives. However, I need to give you one example as a proof. I looked up the daily death toll: two people died in car accidents, one was killed, and one suffered serious injuries that led to death. There were another 2+1+1 deaths – what about those people? They are dead. Why does nobody talk about them? It is because they do not need it, this is of no interest to them. Five people died in one day. But they chose one and started hyping it,” he noted.
“I was informed about this yesterday and I immediately noticed (and yesterday that man was still alive) that some started assuming that he was beaten up. I would not name any names, but they started hinting at people close to the president, deeming them guilty. No one needs this riot. No one needs sacred deaths. Neither me, nor them. He was someone's son, after all,” the president stressed.
“We cannot politicize people's deaths. I instructed the Internal Affairs Ministry – because people try to put the blame for this on them – to contact the victim's parents and try to talk to them, although it might be difficult,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
