In the Vitebsk region, issues of preventing the death and severe injury of minors from external causes have become more acute

Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the region Volkov A.V. noted that in connection with high-profile accidents involving children in the Vitebsk region, the issues of preventing the death and severe injury of minors from external causes have become more acute.

In the current period of 2020, 11 children have already died from external causes (drowning, falls, asphyxia, etc.).

In Polotsk on 08.11.2020, an eight-year-old schoolboy drowned in a storm drain. The opening of the storm drain manhole, the depth of which was 2.5 meters (filled with water to 1.9 meters), was covered with rotten wooden boards. The Polotsk Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 428 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus due to the negligence of officials of the organization responsible for the operation of the manhole.

In Vitebsk, at a railway crossing, a thirteen-year-old schoolboy suffered a traumatic amputation of the middle third of his lower leg.

In this regard, prosecutors at the local level have been instructed by the regional prosecutor's office to promptly analyze the effectiveness of safety measures at urban and rural infrastructure facilities, including storm drains, other similar facilities, as well as transport facilities.

In addition, the work of executive committees, administrations, and other prevention entities will be assessed within the framework of implementing the joint directive of the regional prosecutor's office and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee to identify and make safe potentially dangerous facilities for children (quarries, construction sites, abandoned buildings, artificial reservoirs, etc.).

Prosecutors will make relevant statements in the media.      

Supervisory Group for the Enforcement of Legislation
on Minors and Youth
of the Regional Prosecutor's Office