Are defendants in the metro blast case beaten in prison?

Lawyers have attracted attention of the court that their clients have bruises and abrasions in the beginning of the preliminary investigation.

As informed by Interfax-Zapad, at the session of the court on Thursday in Minsk the lawyer of Uladzislau Kavaliou, Stanislau Abrazei, read out the results of the forensic examination held on 13-25 April. It is stated in this document that U. Kavaliou had scratch marks on his chin, temporal part of the head, on the hand, forearm and knee joints, made by a blunt object. According to the experts, it was impossible to find out how these marks had appeared.

The lawyer of Dzmitry Kanavalau, has also read out conclusions of the analogous forensic examination of his client. Bruises and abrasions in the area of the shoulder bone, shin, chest, the left shoulder joint, were found on D. Kanavalau. They were received one week before and 1-2 days before (the moment of the examination).

According to the experts, these marks had been made by blunt objects, however is does not seem possible to determine the mechanism of sustaining the injuries.

In this connection, on the request of the prosecution, the conclusion on dismissing criminal complaint relating alleged physical abuse against D. Kanavalau dated by 31 May was read out. Institution of criminal proceedings was dismissed owing to the absence of elements of a crime in the actions of policemen.

According to this document, part of the alleged injuries was not found during examination held after the statements about use of physical force against D. Kanavalau. At the same time, it is noted that he could get bodily injuries during detention by “Almaz” special police service, who had information that the suspect could detonate a bomb and maintain resistance, so use physical force by them was a least-evil solution.