Lukashenko allowed the military to shoot citizens
February 6, 2024
The military in Belarus has been given the right to use weapons against citizens. For changes introduced by Alexander Lukashenko in the Charter of the Internal Service of the Armed Forces, on Monday, February 5, the Belarusian group Gayun attracted attention.
In particular, the Belarusian ruler ordered the amendment of Article 11 of the Charter. According to the new version, the military has the right to use physical force and weapons against citizens. In the event of injury or death of a citizen, the prosecutor’s office, as well as the preliminary investigation body, are immediately notified, but the military is not responsible for the damage caused if the weapon was used “in accordance with the requirements of general military regulations”, says the document.
As Belarusski Gayun notes, the Charter previously stated that “the use of physical force, special means, weapons, military and special equipment by military personnel in excess of authority entails responsibility established by legislative acts.”
Security forces have already killed citizens during protests in 2020
Following the August 2020 presidential elections, security forces brutally repressed protests that broke out in Belarus. The greatest resonance was caused by the murder of Roman Bondarenko, who died after a prolonged beating by security forces, and the death of Alexander Taraikovsky and Gennady Shutov, who were shot during peaceful protests in Minsk and Brest.
A criminal case was never opened over Shutov’s death, and soon the deceased himself and his friend Alexander Kordyukov were accused – they were accused of attempted murder of representatives of law enforcement agencies. As a result, Shutov was found guilty without punishment, and Kordyukov, who witnessed the murder of his friend, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a maximum security colony.
During the entire period of protests in Belarus, more than 25 thousand people were detained, according to human rights activists, many of whom were injured during detention and were subjected to torture and abuse. Several people died. Several thousand ended up in prison on various protest-related charges and are still there. In connection with the brutal repression of protests and electoral fraud, EU countries and the United States imposed sanctions against Belarusian officials and a number of companies.
Source: DW
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