The prosecutor's office identified shortcomings in the activities of OSVOD regarding the safety of citizens on water.

As part of the supervision of compliance with legislation aimed at ensuring the safety of citizens, the prosecutor's offices of the Vitebsk region conducted inspections of the enforcement of legislation regulating issues of protecting human life on water, as well as the organization of public recreation areas.

According to operational data for 7 months of 2018, 35 people drowned in the region's waters (the same period last year - 28). An increase was recorded in the Zheleznodorozhny, Pervomaysky districts of Vitebsk, Orshansky, Polotsky, Vitebsk, Dokshitsky, Miorsky, Sennensky, Chashniksky, Ushachsky districts.

The presented statistical data indicate the insufficiency or ineffectiveness of the measures taken by the relevant state bodies to fulfill the requirements of the current legislation, as well as the decision of the coordination meeting on combating crime and corruption in the Vitebsk region.

It should be noted that the subject and purpose of the OSVOD's activities is to maximally reduce the probability of people drowning in the Republic of Belarus.

As the inspections showed, the organization of the OSVOD units' activities does not fully contribute to the fulfillment of tasks for rescuing and protecting human life on water and needs improvement.

For example, in the city of Vitebsk, there is 1 rescue station, 1 maneuver search group, and 4 stationary rescue posts. The actual number of divers at these stations is 98% of the norm of 100%; rescue posts lack motor boats, rescue boats, outboard motors, rescue buoys, and rescue vests (life jackets); the rescue station lacks rescue buoys and rescue vests (life jackets); the maneuver search group is not equipped with a boat and rescue boards (for the winter period).

Rescue posts and stations in Novopolotsk, Dokshitsky, Orshansky, and Lepelsky districts are not fully staffed, including with first aid equipment.

The performance of functions by the structural divisions of OSVOD raises concerns.

parts of monitoring the implementation by local authorities of measures to comply with the current legislation on the timely receipt of a technical passport for a beach and its water area in the established form (Orshansky district, Vitebsk city).

Vitebsk region is a lake region, however, the number of facilities for mass recreation of citizens where swimming is allowed is insignificant. The lack of a systematic approach to determining the location of stations, taking into account places of mass recreation, and insufficient equipment with necessary inventory and medicines leads to inefficient work in organizing rescue of people on water, creating risks of emergencies threatening people's lives and health.

Following the results of the inspection, the prosecutor's office of the region submitted a representation to the chairman of the Vitebsk regional organization of RGOO OSVOD, demanding to eliminate the identified violations.

The review of the supervision act is under control.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the Region Natalya Kolpakova.