Events

MINSK, 22 May (BelTA) – The optimization of the Investigative Committee should not have an influence on the quality and fundamental nature of investigation, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he heard out a report of Chairman of the Investigative Committee Ivan Noskevich on 22 May, BelTA has learned.

The head of state asked about the progress in the optimization of the agency and stressed that it should not have any influence on the quality of investigation, its independent and honest nature. “I want to have objective information. Are there any failures? Do you need support?” Alexander Lukashenko wondered.

The president remarked that in this context it would be useful to analyze the opinions of colleagues from investigation bodies of other countries with which the Belarusian Investigative Committee cooperates, study their evaluations of the changes and reforms in the Belarusian law enforcement system.

Alexander Lukashenko deemed it necessary to maintain relations with the Investigative Committee of Russia and its chief Alexander Bastrykin. “As far as I understand, you have also established good contacts with the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America. You should maintain relations with them because you will often work together,” the president said. The cooperation with Interpol is also important for Belarusian investigators, the head of state stressed.

Alexander Lukashenko also instructed Ivan Noskevich to deal with an unpleasant situation involving recently appointed head of the Orsha District Executive Committee Leonid Penkovsky. It is connected with the actions of law enforcement bodies in relation to a high-ranking official. “Who allowed them to break into the house of a person whose appointment was approved by the president? A president’s consent is needed to start an investigation even into a person included in the president’s personnel pool. They broke into his house, started to inquire into certain issues,” the head of state said. “He has been appointed recently and got into such an unpleasant situation. This is not a good signal.”

“There are necessary materials. Deal with this issue,” the president instructed. “I need a reliable and honest evaluation of this situation.”

The chairman of the Investigative Committee briefed the head of state on the operation of the agency. In Q1 2017, investigators processed about 28,000 statements and reports of a crime. This number fell from the same period of 2016.

Ivan Noskevich also informed Alexander Lukashenko about the investigation of the most important criminal cases supervised by the president.