MINSK, 18 August (BelTA) - We are for a thorough review of every case and its principled assessment. The statement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been posted in the Telegram channel of the ministry's official representative of Olga Chemodanova, BelTA has learned.
“Administrators of a number of Telegram channels (and, unfortunately, some political figures) demand that officers of the internal affairs agencies ‘who do not want to act against their people' resign. However, while chanting the slogans ‘police with the people” they are doing the contrary. They are creating a wrong attitude: to be a law enforcement officer is shameful and bad. All police officers are now being demonized without exception. They want us to get rid of police IDs in a melodramatic fashion, join protesters, publicly condemn colleagues and the authorities in general. This will not happen," the statement reads. “We share the responsibility for all the negative things that people had to experience during the recent events. We are for a thorough review of every case and its principled assessment.”
Law enforcement officers noted that they do not judge a small group of policemen who have left the service in accordance with their inner convictions. “Some of them decided to give up everything only because of the disapproval heated up on the internet (often threats and even threats of physical violence) of the society, the security of which they ensure. The majority of police officers, however, have put on the uniform to do good to the society and the state. People who call on ‘honest policemen' to throw out the uniform do not give answers to simple and logical questions. If the police must ‘be with the people', then why we think that the people are thousands of protesters but not millions who stay at home or continue working these days and who want only one thing - safety for themselves and their loved ones? If all police officers remove the shoulder straps, who will defend these Belarusians while another part of them expresses their opinion in the streets? Will campaigners, protesters do this? These questions are rhetorical. Due to the recent developments the internal affairs bodies already lack enough resources to ensure security in your courtyards and houses,” the ministry said.