Bykhau resident keeps demanding prosecution of local policeman on forgery charges

Aliaksandr Shachanok, resident of the town of Bykhau, Mahiliou region, has lodged a complaint with the Regional Prosecutor’s Office against an earlier decision by the prosecutor of Bykhau district to deny prosecution of local policeman Vital Vashchyla for alleged forging a police report (Par. 1 Art. 427 of the Criminal Code) back in November 2011.

The appeal was submitted after a previous reply from the prosecuting authorities claimed that it was impossible to identify the person who put his signature under the report. Meanwhile, the policeman received a reprimand. However, Aliaksandr Shachanok says the penalty is too mild for the offence.

“We once again urge the Prosecutor’s Office to answer all our questions, instead of redirecting the appeal to the bodies whose actions are being challenged. Meanwhile, it looks like Vashchyla is being backed by someone in the security agencies, as the investigating authorities keep ignoring his offences,” says local human rights defender Barys Bukhel, who assisted Aliaksandr Shachanok in drafting the complaint.