MFA expresses serious concern over beating of Belarusian teenager in Bialystok

The Foreign Ministry press secretary Anatoly Glaz, answering a question about the beating of a Belarusian teenager in Bialystok, said that the department expressed serious concern about the increasing cases of bullying of Belarusian children in Polish schools, beatings and attacks on Belarusians based on their nationality, arbitrary detentions, threats and intimidation by special services against Belarusian citizens for far-fetched reasons. This is reported by BELTA.

"As of now, no notifications from law enforcement agencies or requests from relatives have been received by our foreign missions in Poland," the Foreign Ministry press secretary explained. "If the victim and his parents apply, they will, of course, be provided with possible consular assistance."

He stressed that the Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the development of this and all other similar incidents. "We are seriously concerned about the situation. This is far from the first incident involving Belarusian citizens in the neighboring country. Recently, numerous cases of bullying of Belarusian children in Polish schools, beatings and attacks on Belarusians on the basis of their nationality, arbitrary detentions, threats and intimidation by special services against Belarusian citizens for far-fetched reasons have been receiving increasing publicity," said Anatoly Glaz. He also recalled the high-profile murder of a 25-year-old Belarusian citizen in Warsaw this spring, and a number of other incidents that were not reported by the media.

"Therefore, we have completely justified our recent statement about the observed increase in xenophobia, racial superiority and discrimination on the basis of language, religion and nationality in certain EU countries against citizens of Belarus, as well as Russia and Ukraine, legally residing there," the Foreign Ministry press secretary noted.

According to him, the Belarusian side calls on the Polish authorities to take comprehensive measures to ensure the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens in Poland in accordance with international obligations and national legislation.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign institutions of Belarus will continue to closely monitor the situation and conduct comprehensive work to protect the rights and interests of Belarusian citizens abroad," Anatoly Glaz assured.

As it was reported, in the center of Bialystok on the afternoon of November 25, a 16-year-old teenager from Belarus was "challenged to a duel" and beaten until he lost consciousness. It is noted that there were three attackers, two of whom were also minors.

The victim was taken to the hospital. The medical report recorded a short-term loss of consciousness.

The boy's father filed a report with the police.