Media reaction to the human shield case near Minsk

date : 14-03-2008   |    source : RT.com

Police use human shield to stop car

Traffic police in Belarus are being criticised after using four unwitting drivers in an attempt to stop a drunk driver. They used the cars as a shield to try to make the speeding motorist stop but failed when he smashed through, risking six lives including a child.

The incident happened eight kilometres from the Belarus capital of Minsk.
Police received an order to stop, by whatever means, a drunk driver speeding down the highway.
Four random cars were stopped by police on the highway and ordered to line up in a row. At the time the drivers had no idea what was going to happen.
“When I saw flashing lights in my rear-view mirror, only then I understood police wanted to make a shield of us in order to stop the driver,” says one of the endangered drivers.
Eventually the red Volkswagen smashed into the car fence built by police.
“When I opened my eyes I saw my Toyota’s hood in the offender’s car’s door. I was in a stupor, in shock, and then I heard someone shouting his car was on fire – I put mine in reverse and stepped on the gas, because it might have burst into flames too,” says Elena, whose car was hit first.
After smashing Elena's Toyota the Volkswagen crashed into another car with a couple and their 3-year old child in it.
The drunk offender is now in hospital.
The head of road police is apologizing for the incident and condemning the action of those who made the decision.
Luckily no one died in the incident, but several people received head injuries and serious shock.
They still don't understand why police didn't build the shield out of their own cars.

date : 25/06/2008   |    source : Charter97.org

“Human shield”: Traffic policemen who almost killed people given suspended sentence

Traffic policemen of Kastrychnitski district of Minsk who made a “human shield” against a drunk driver, have been given a suspended sentence. Henadz Darahakupets and Andrei Likhtarovich have been sentenced to two years of imprisonment with a three year deferral and with a ban to occupy certain positions for three years.

Such a decision has been made on June 25 by judge of Minsk region and of the town of Zaslaul Iryna Majko, who has supported the claim of the state prosecuting official.

Traffic policemen have been found guilty of the crime under Article 426 Part 1 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power). The punishment under this article is up to three years of imprisonement.

As we have informed, on March 2 traffic policemen Darahakupets and Likhtarovich and two their colleagues have taken part in detention of a drunken driver Raman Myantsiuk on the road Minsk-Mikashevichy. Myantsiuk was on the way to Minsk at a speed of 160 km/h. to stop the criminal, traffic policemen places several cars in his way. There were people in the cars, five adults and one child. The citizens went to the court demanding to punish traffic policemen. As a result of investigation a criminal case against two traffic policemen was sclosed

The victims’ lawyer’s comment

Vera Stremkovskaya (to her the victims of another human shield case asked for advise, hoping for justice):
“You must return the situation in the legal field,  check all the facts and arguments of the parties, give them a proper evaluation, thereby safeguarding the violated rights of citizens. And we hope that this case will arise a number of investigations similar to the episode of March 2, with a legal assessment of what happened and the punishment of those responsible.  Such events should not continue to occur in our country.  I want to believe that the practice of "human shields" will be forever eliminated.”

Human shields in Belarus by lawyer and defender Vera Stremkovskaya