Director of Brest FEZ resident brutally beaten by police

A man with a traumatic brain injury, a chemical eye burn and descended kidneys was taken to hospital.

A group of Brest dwellers had baby's christening party at the cafe “U Ozera” on September 5. Most of the guests had left by 11 p.m. Only some families remain. Among them was the family of 35-year-old Syarhei Rudz, the director of “Tchorny Krasny Bely” company, a resident of Brest Free Economic Zone. Syarhei met with journalists of Vecherny Brest newspaper in hospital on Tuesday morning.

A group of men was standing near the cafe. They began to insult company director Syarhei. Syarhei came to them and tried to calm them down. Police appeared and began to beat the company director, his friend Valyantin, 34, and one more man. Policemen had different military ranks, but didn't have badges. On the order of an unknown man, they put handcuffs on Syarhei and Valyantin and threw them into a car. They were first taken to the narcology department and then to the police department of Leninski district. Policemen drew up reports over hooliganism and resisting police officers. Valyantin refused to sign the report. Syarhei was physically unable to do this – he had a chemical eye burn caused by policeman's pepper spray and almost couldn't see.

Syarhei's wife called an ambulance. A physician assistant took both detained men, accompanied by policemen, to the emergency  hospital. They were later moved to the surgery unit of the regional hospital.

Syarhei and Valyantin were diagnosed with a traumatic brain  injury, a chemical ocular burn and descended kidneys. Syarhei and Valyantin think the conflict near the cafe and rude detention were not a coincidence. It was a pre-planned operation against them, they suppose.