Relatives of policeman's victim apply to 'Viasna'

The relatives of the girl who had been shot dead by a policeman applied to the Human Rights Center Viasna saying they didn't believe the official version, according to which it was an accidental shot. The human rights are convinced of the necessity to organize a public supervision over the investigation of this criminal case.

As we learned several days ago, 22-year-old Nina died in the resuscitation department. As stated to the BelaPAN by Nadzeya Bondarava, Chairperson of the Homel Region Procuracy Department, her death is a reason to change the charges to the accused from an attempt of assassination to assassination. According to information of the preliminary investigation, the policeman was inebriated at the time of the crime.

The relatives of the dead girl told the Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka that they had been proposed money.

'Any talks about money are looking as a mockery now. Our position is that the moral damage inflicted by this crime can be exacted from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where the policeman worked. First of all, we need to assure that the preliminary investigation was conducted objectively so that no one would have any questions. We have given the appropriate legal advice to the victim's relatives,' said Mr. Paplauny.

The human rights defenders stated they would organize an independent monitoring of the investigation of the criminal case and would render the legal aid to the family, including the help in finding a lawyer that would be independent from the local authorities.