The General Prosecutor’s Office of Belarus opened a criminal case over the murder of protester Roman Bondarenko in a Minsk courtyard in November 2020, TASS reports.
The case is being investigated under the article on intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm, resulting in death by negligence. At the same time, the state prosecution insists that the involvement of security officials in the beating of the young man has not been established. Those who attacked Bondarenko could face up to ten years in prison. There are no suspects in the case yet.
31-year-old Bondarenko died on November 12 in the hospital, where he was hospitalized with numerous injuries from the Central District Department of Internal Affairs. Eyewitnesses said that the day before, unknown persons wearing masks had arrived in their courtyard and began to remove the protest symbols. Bondarenko went out to ask what was happening, after which he was thrown onto the asphalt and beaten. He died a few days later.
In Belarus, protests continue for the seventh month after the presidential elections on August 9. The actions are harshly suppressed by the security forces. Tens of thousands of people were detained, and many spoke of torture and beatings in isolation wards. Four people were killed in clashes with security forces.