Policemen travel as free riders

Belarusian policemen refuse to pay fares referring to the decree of the president of 1995.

In the meantime conductors refer to the law on state social benefits adopted last year. It does not mention policemen as receivers of social benefits for traveling in public transport.

“Most of policemen refuse to pay. We ask them and try to make them ashamed: little children are paying, and you, strong men, are refusing. And then they feel ashamed,” Minsk metro workers told to Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Transport Ministry representatives note that the presidential decree of 1995 hasn’t been annulled. “That is why policemen do not pay fares still,” the ministry explained.

At the moment the presidential decree No. 403 of 1995 is still in force. Under the decree law-enforcing agencies representatives can use the public transport for free. At the same time, the law on state social benefits adopted last year does not say policemen can travel for free, Telegraf informs.

“Time is needed to reconcile the new legal base and the old one. As for me, I pay fares,” the head of information and PR department of Internal Affairs ministry Aleh Slepchanka said.

“A draft law exists, and it is at the stage of signing now. According to it, some policemen, police investigators and those responsible for public order in the streets, could be singled out as a separate category and a special sign could be given to them for free travel,” the IAM representative explained.