Two major criminal groups disclosed in Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

Two major criminal groups, operating in the Gomel region for the past few years, have been disclosed in Belarus, a deputy to the Belarussian prosecutor general told reporters on Thursday.

According to the official, Viktor Prus, one of the groups named the Morozov group after its leader had been operating in the region since 1990. Its participants are suspected of at least 15 murders. Investigators have also proved their involvement in at least 15 kidnappings, several rape cases as well as seven crimes connected with weapons trafficking.

Prus said 39 members of the group had been arrested, while another five people were on the wanted list. The deputy prosecutor general also stressed that some law enforcement officers had been involved in the criminal activity of the Morozov group. They have been arrested, one of them has the rank of colonel, Prus stressed.

The case of the Morozov group is unprecedented for the law enforcement system of Belarus, the official emphasized. He also said that another group, having over 40 grave crimes on its list, has been disclosed in Gomel. A total of 26 people have been arrested, Prus added.