Minsk resident detained on beach: Riot policeman attacked me and began to twist my arms

New details of the conflict between beach-goers and the riot police at Zaslauskaye Reservoir have appeared.

Journalists talked to the “man on crutches”, whose wife, according to one version, was injured by a police officer or, according to another version, attacked the policeman, trying to tear off his insignia. The police gave comments on the incident.

Valery, the man on crutches in the video, is now at hospital on suspicion of fracture complication after a brawl on the beach, onliner.by writes. It's worth noting that Valery has some relation to the police – he has worked as an anesthesiologist at the interior ministry's hospital for 12 years. He says:

“To be honest, the police was called by Viktoria. She shouted about it while the rest people were trying to protect their rights. Victoria lied near the bushes, and the woman, who became the cause of the conflict, was near the water. The policemen were confidently approaching the woman near the water, so they knew their target.

The policemen came and said her to collect her belonging. My wife recognised the officer with whom she had had a conflict a month ago [the woman is accused of drinking alcohol in public, but she refuses to admit it and filed a complaint about the policeman]. Once suffered from injustice, she asked what the police wanted for her friend.

The policeman, perhaps, doesn't know laws well. He said not to interfere because 'the administrative process was under way'. He didn't introduce himself. My wife took him by the hand to make him at least turn his head as a response, but he said: 'Well, we'll detain that one, too.' Nobody attacked him. He weights 100 kilogrammes, while my wife has only 55 kilogrammes. It's absurd.

My wife was ordered to follow them for interference with the 'administrative process'. She answered: 'I will go if you tell me on what ground I should do it.' He said: 'For failure to obey orders.' He seized her arms and literally began to drag her on the ground. I took my crutches and jumped to them. I reached the policeman and got a push in the chest. The second police officer attacked me from behind and began to twist my arms. He even reached for his pepper-spray projectile. People showed their indignation, and he set me free.

Victoria claims all got into the police van voluntary. But in actual case my wife was handcuffed and her arms were twisted. Why did they do so? Did we look like criminals?

A lieutenant came to us. He was a normal man unlike two sergeants. I asked to call an ambulance, because I suspected a fracture, and my wife felt bad. Medical staff later recorded she had marks of blows.

The rest people were taken to a police station and thrown into holding cells. Two persons were later released and taken home when someone from senior staff arrived and apologised. The woman who was sunbathing topless was presented charges.

I think we should discuss the proportion between the offence and punishment. The police attacked a woman in a swimsuit and a man on crutches. They would have taken us to the police station in trunks and swimsuit if the ambulance hadn't taken us to hospital.

We were not drunk. Medical statements can prove it.”

Valery says they are not nudists but attend that beach regularly:

“It can hardly be called a nude beach. Only some woman may be topless. If someone gets drunk and walks nude, the others ask his or her to get dressed. It has always been the calmest and quietest beach.

The police department of the Minsk region knows about the incident but takes the side of Viktoria.

“The woman on the beach told the police patrol about a topless woman. She was said to get dressed for the first time. Next time, she was offered to follow the policeman and accept charges. Other beach-goers began to defend her. The video doesn't show the beginning and the end of the brawl. A couple asked to call an ambulance. The ambulance arrived, but no injuries were recorded,” acting spokesman for the Minsk region police department Aliaksadr Hrabko says. “These persons will be fined for interfering with administrative proceedings and failure to obey orders of police officers. If they don't agree, they have the right to go to court.

As far as I know, two other persons were not detained. They agreed to be witnesses.

As for the biased attitude, one of the detained persons was charged with drinking alcohol on the beach a month ago. She doesn't agree with the charge. The case is under investigation.”