{"id":163815,"date":"2025-11-12T12:51:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T09:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/163815\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"opposition-marks-fifth-anniversary-of-activist-bandarenkas-death","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/163815\/","title":{"rendered":"Fifth anniversary of opposition activist Bandarenka\u2019s murder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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November 12, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Opposition activist Raman Bandarenka died at the hands of those who feared and continue to fear the truth, Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bandarenka died five years ago while in police custody after being beaten by unknown men near his house in Minsk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Belarusians commemorate his courage and striving for freedom, the politician noted on Telegram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe remember all those who have suffered from violence and impunity, and we insist that justice will prevail,\u201d she said. \u201cBelarus will become a country where you can go out into your yard and feel only peace, respect and safety. Where \u2018just living\u2019 will not endanger your life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s associate Pavie\u0142 \u0141atu\u0161ka pledged to seek justice for victims of politically-motivated reprisals and torture in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Today, as we honor the memory of Raman Bandarenka and all who gave their lives for our country\u2019s future, we must state clearly and firmly: those responsible for these crimes must be brought to justice,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have not accepted Raman\u2019s death, nor forgotten those responsible. We know their names,\u201d the politician said. \u201cWe will keep working to restore the rule of law in Belarus, where murderers and executioners will one day face a fair trial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prosecutor General\u2019s Office of Belarus in September 2021 suspended an investigation into Bandarenka\u2019s violent death, citing failure to identify the perpetrator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late on November 11, 2020, Bandarenka, 31, went out of his home in Minsk to find out why unknown masked men were taking down white and red ribbons from a courtyard fence. He was then brutally beaten, taken to a police station and rushed to hospital in a coma a few hours later. He died from a head injury without regaining consciousness the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On February 18, 2021, the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office said that law enforcement officers had not been involved in the attack on Bandarenka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activist\u2019s death sparked a massive public outcry, with protests staged across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tut.by<\/em> journalist Kaciaryna Barysievi\u010d, who investigated the accident, was sentenced to six months in prison for disclosing doctors\u2019 conclusions on Bandarenka\u2019s examination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaciaryna Andrejeva and Darja \u010culcova, of Belsat TV<\/em>, were sentenced to prison for covering protests triggered by the activist\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video footage and the recordings of phone conversations, published by the Cyberpartisans hacktivist group in August 2022, implicated Natalla Ejsmant, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s press secretary; D\u017amitryj Baska\u016d, a member of the Council of the Republic; and D\u017amitryj \u0160akuta, a professional kickboxer, in the assault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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