MINSK, 27 November (BelTA) - The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is gravely concerned over the increasing cases of harassment of Belarusian children in Polish schools, beatings and attacks on Belarusians on the basis of nationality, arbitrary detentions, threats and intimidation by the special services against citizens of Belarus for far-fetched reasons, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Glaz said as he answered a question from BelTA about the attack on a Belarusian teenager in Bialystok.
"As of now, the Belarusian diplomatic missions in Poland were not contacted by law enforcement agencies or relatives," the spokesman said. "In the event of an appeal from the victim and his parents, we will provide possible consular assistance."
He emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps tabs on this case and all other similar incidents. “We are gravely concerned about the situation. This is not the first such incident happening with Belarusian citizens in the neighboring country. Recently, we have been hearing more and more about numerous cases of bullying of Belarusian children in Polish schools, beatings and attacks on Belarusians on the basis of their ethnicity, as well as arbitrary detentions, threats and intimidation by special services for far-fetched reasons,” said Anatoly Glaz. He recalled the shocking murder of a 25-year-old Belarusian citizen in Warsaw this spring. This murder made headlines, but a number of other incidents went unreported by the media.
“Therefore, we had all grounds to raise the alarm about the increasing xenophobia, racial superiority and discrimination on the basis of language, faith and ethnicity against citizens of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine legally residing in certain EU countries,” the press secretary remarked.
“Therefore, we had all grounds to raise the alarm about the increasing xenophobia, racial superiority and discrimination on the basis of language, faith and ethnicity against citizens of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine legally residing in certain EU countries,” the press secretary remarked.
According to him, the Belarusian side urges the Polish authorities to take comprehensive measures to ensure the fundamental rights and freedoms of Belarusian citizens in Poland in accordance with international and national laws.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions of Belarus will keep monitoring the situation and will work to protect the rights and interests of Belarusian citizens abroad," Anatoly Glaz assured.
As it was reported, a 16-year-old teenager from Belarus was "challenged to a fight" and beaten unconscious in the center of Bialystok in the afternoon on 25 November. It is noted that the boy was attacked by three people, two of whom were minors.
The victim was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a short-term loss of consciousness.
The boy's father filed a complaint with the police.
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