The railway is a source of increased danger.

The railway is a source of increased danger. Thousands of passengers use the rolling stock of Belarusian Railways daily, and hundreds of freight cars transport goods, including those classified as dangerous.

At the same time, in recent days, cases of "railway warfare" have become more frequent on Belarusian Railways – unknown persons stretch wire between the rails to trigger railway automation, thereby creating prerequisites for emergencies on the railway, which can lead to injury and death of people, cause damage to economic entities and the environment, and lead to an environmental disaster.

"Railway warfare" has also affected the Vitebsk transport region. Thus, on 28.10.2020, on the Baravukha-Adamovo section, during track inspection, a track worker discovered a metal wire fixed between both rails. Law enforcement officers are conducting an investigation into this fact.

Interference by unauthorized persons in the operation of railway automation by short-circuiting the track circuit using foreign objects can not only disrupt train schedules, causing inconvenience to passengers, but also lead to emergency braking of rolling stock, which can be considered intentional blocking of transport communications.

Administrative responsibility is provided for the specified actions, and if people are injured or significant damage is caused as a result, a criminal case will be initiated against the perpetrator.

Thus, according to Art. 310 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, for intentional blocking of transport communications by creating obstacles, setting up posts, or in any other way, resulting in particularly large-scale damage, criminal liability is provided in the form of a fine, correctional labor for up to two years, restriction of liberty for up to three years, or imprisonment for the same term.

The same action, resulting in death by negligence or causing grievous or less grievous bodily harm

bodily injury, provides for criminal liability in the form of arrest, restriction of liberty for a term of up to five years, or imprisonment for a term of three to ten years.

Assistant to the Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor
Dmitry Kubrakov