{"id":163869,"date":"2025-11-12T17:00:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T14:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/163869\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"beyond-any-doubt-officials-were-involved-in-bandarenkas-murder-ex-investigator-says","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/163869\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond any doubt officials were involved in Bandarenka\u2019s murder, investigator says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 12, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Officials were undoubtedly involved in the murder of opposition activist Raman Bandarenka<\/strong> five years ago, former investigator U\u0142adzimir \u017dyhar told Pozirk<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawing on information obtained by the Cyberpartizans hacktivist group, \u017dyhar was among former security officers who published an investigation in September 2021 identifying those allegedly involved in the assault that led to Bandarenka\u2019s death. Among them, he named Natalla Ejsmant, spokeswoman for the Belarusian ruler; D\u017amitryj Baska\u016d, now a member of the Council of the Republic; and D\u017amitryj \u0160akuta, a martial arts master. \u017dyhar added that SOBR police officers and other unidentified individuals also took part in the attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although officials denied the allegations, \u017dyhar said independent investigators had gathered solid evidence to substantiate their claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis crime has no statute of limitations, and sooner or later those responsible for Raman\u2019s death will be brought to justice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u017dyhar emphasized that once the Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka regime falls, reconciliation in Belarusian society will not be possible without justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere will be no reconciliation until the criminals receive the punishment they deserve. Anything else would be unjust,\u201d he said. \u201cThose who promote the idea of simply turning the page are hypocrites. If such crimes are forgotten, they will eventually happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

On the evening of November 11, 2020, Bandarenka, 31, left his home in Minsk to find out why masked men were removing white-and-red ribbons from a courtyard fence. He was brutally beaten, taken to a police station, and hospitalized in a coma a few hours later. He died the following day from a severe head injury without regaining consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On February 18, 2021, the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office stated that no law enforcement officers had been involved in the attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bandarenka\u2019s death sparked widespread public outrage, with protests erupting across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tut.by journalist Kaciaryna Barysievi\u010d, who investigated the case, was sentenced to six months in prison for publishing doctors\u2019 findings from Bandarenka\u2019s medical examination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaciaryna Andrejeva and Darja \u010culcova of Belsat TV were also imprisoned for covering the protests triggered by his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2022, the Cyberpartizans released video footage and recorded phone conversations implicating Natalla Ejsmant, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s press secretary; D\u017amitryj Baska\u016d; and D\u017amitryj \u0160akuta, a professional kickboxer, in the assault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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