Иллюстративное фото: ГУВД Мингорисполкома
Security forces have found a new way to take revenge for participation in the 2020 protests — they are visiting the homes of Belarusians who can no longer be prosecuted because the statute of limitations has expired, Nasha Niva reports, citing sources.
The publication is aware of several cases in Mahilyow where officers from GUBOPiK forced their way into apartments “for preventive measures.”
“The intimidation raid looked like this. Several GUBOPiK officers arrived around 7 a.m. When the person opened the door after knocking, they were forced face down onto the floor and had their arms twisted behind their back. The apartment was ransacked and belongings were scattered around (apparently more for show than to actually search for something),” the publication wrote.
The person was then taken to a police station for a “preventive conversation,” warned about liability for “protest-related” activities, and told how the authorities track “extremists.” Security officers made them sign a document stating that they understood the risk of criminal liability for any new protest-related actions. After that, the people were allowed to return home.
It is known that security forces carried out these visits over participation in the 2020 protests so that people, as the officers explained, would “not relax.”
It is unknown whether this intimidation practice is being used in other regions.