«Like in the wild nineties»

The Prosecutor's Office of the Rossony District has sent a criminal case to court charging G., a citizen of the Russian Federation, born in 1997, a resident of Sebezh, Pskov Region, with a crime that is currently rare not only for the Rossony region but for our country as a whole – a robbery attack on the highway.

Thus, on the night of April 29, 2024, in the Rossony District, G., driving a passenger car, a few kilometers from the State Border, "cut off" a minivan that he had been pursuing from the territory of the Russian Federation. The minivan carried 8 elderly citizens of Moldova returning home after working in Moscow.

Demanding the transfer of money to him, G. smashed all the windows, headlights, and mirrors of the minivan with a crowbar, removed the fuel tank cap, and threatened to set the car on fire with the citizens inside. After receiving 100 US dollars from the driver, G. immediately left in the direction of the Russian Federation.

Within 24 hours, officers of the criminal investigation department of the Rossony District Department of Internal Affairs identified the attacker, who had previously come to the attention of traffic police officers in the district. Through an operational maneuver, they "lured" him to the town of Rossony. On May 2, 2024, the Russian citizen was detained, and the next day, arrested. During the preliminary investigation, all eight victims were interrogated using video recording, which subsequently "eased" the work of the state prosecutor, as the victims did not appear in court.

Despite the defendant's denial of guilt, the prosecution presented convincing evidence to the court confirming his guilt under Part 1 of Article 207 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, which led to a guilty verdict.

When determining the sentence for G., the court took into account positive references from his place of residence and work, a previously served sentence, voluntary compensation for damages, and the absence of aggravating circumstances. Taking into account the opinion of the state prosecutor, the court sentenced him to 4 years of imprisonment in a correctional colony under an intensified regime, with a fine of 120 base units, which amounts to 4800 rubles. The court's verdict has entered into legal force.

Despite the fact that G. is a citizen of a foreign state, committed a crime at night, near the border, left for the territory of the Russian Federation after its commission, and all victims are citizens of Moldova, the law enforcement system of the Republic of Belarus, under the supervision of the prosecutor's office, was able not only to solve the crime but also to achieve just retribution for the perpetrator. In this regard, before committing something prohibited, it is worth thinking several times whether it is worth risking everything you have (job, family, freedom) to gain minor and short-term benefits?

Prosecutor of Rossony District

Counselor of Justice A.R. Kazakevich