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CASE #220
Date
08 / 08 / 2020
City
Minsk
Perpetrators
  • Plain clothed police officers
  • Special Purpose Police Unit OMON
Type of violation
  • Abduction
  • Arbitrary or unlawful arrest and/or detention
International classification of violations
  • Right to freedom of peaceful assembly
  • Right to liberty and security of person
Description

Time: daytime

Place/Location: near Kupalovskaja subway station

Identity of the victim(s): young/middle age men, two of them have long hair, one is dressed in a black vishivanka (a t-shirt with belarusian national ornament).

Identity of the perpetrator(s): men in civilian clothes and uniformed, faces covered with masks. White vans with no identification, typically used by police forces in Belarus.

Multiple detentions of civilians by fully-equipped and masked OMON and/or plainclothes officers.

First incident :
A rather young, civilian male got forced into a white van by two OMON wearing all-black uniforms and masks. Three other men wearing plainclothes and black masks assisted the OMON and pushed the detainee, who didn't have time to resist, into the van. The five perpetrators were clearly coordinated and working together. They also seized a bicycle (probably the detainee's).

Second incident :
Two OMON wearing all-black uniforms and masks lifted up some civilian woman lying there off the ground. They then carried her all the way to a white van parked along the sidewalk. The woman did not resist as they put her into the van. Three or four other male civilians wearing plainclothes seemed to be helping the OMON. Bystanders screamed "shame!" at the OMON.

Third incident :
A male civilian gets suddenly apprehended from behind by two OMON policemen wearing all-black uniforms and masks and a third man in plainclothes. The plainclothes officer points to the van parked a bit further and grasps the detainee's arm, guiding him towards the white van. The detainee does not resist.

Each time, the vehicles don't have any registration plates or identification sign.

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