Four years ago, Raman Bandarenka was abducted and then killed in Minsk. Those responsible for this remain unpunished.
Terrible events unfolded four years ago in the "Square of Changes," a courtyard in the capital whose residents became known for their active civic stance. As darkness fell on November 11, 2020, men and women wearing masks arrived there. They began cutting down white-red-white ribbons from the fence.
Local residents protested against these actions. One of those who stood up to the intruders was Raman Bandarenka. Before that, he had posted in the neighborhood’s Telegram chat: "I'm coming out." Those were the last words written by Raman Bandarenka.
He was beaten right in the courtyard, then loaded into a minivan. Later, Raman was handed over to OMON officers, who took him to the Central District Police Department, and from there, to the hospital. He was in very serious condition. On the evening of November 12, Raman Bandarenka passed away.
The names of some individuals involved in the abduction and murder of Raman Bandarenka became known just a few days later. In 2021, the former Belarusian security forces association BYPOL conducted a thorough investigation into the case.
It was revealed that one of those who beat Raman Bandarenka was the world champion in Muay Thai and kickboxing, Dzmitry Shakuta.
Among others were SOBR officers Siarhei Sarman, Yauheni Tsimanouski, Siarhei Antsufeev, Aleh Buikevich, and Raman Savenka. According to BYPOL, these were the men who carried Raman Bandarenka into the minivan, continuing the beating along the way.
The former Belarusian security officers called the evidence provided in the investigation "ironclad," but the Prosecutor General's Office thought otherwise. In September 2021, it suspended the case on the grounds that it was "impossible to identify the person involved in the crime."
Today, those involved in Raman Bandarenka’s murder remain unpunished. This includes not only those who directly beat the deceased but also members of the group who arrived at the "Square of Changes" that evening to cut down white-red-white ribbons. These people received physical support from SOBR and OMON officers. The identities of those who were part of that group are known.
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Among them are the dictator’s press secretary Natallia Eismant, her husband’s sister Hanna Eismant, the former head of the hockey federation Dzmitry Baskau, and others. According to Belarusian criminal law, these people are accomplices to the murder.
This year, commemorative actions were held in Vilnius and Warsaw in memory of Raman Bandarenka. In the Lithuanian capital, democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined other concerned Belarusians in honoring the memory of the hero.
"I'm coming out," were Raman Bandarenka’s last words. He came out to protect our symbols, to stop the violence of the dictatorship, and to allow us to live in a free country.
Raman was only 31 years old. He sacrificed his young life for us. He became a Belarusian hero — as did many other Belarusians. Their sacrifices were not in vain.
As long as the violence of the dictatorship continues, we will continue to come out!
Terrible events unfolded four years ago in the "Square of Changes," a courtyard in the capital whose residents became known for their active civic stance. As darkness fell on November 11, 2020, men and women wearing masks arrived there. They began cutting down white-red-white ribbons from the fence.
Local residents protested against these actions. One of those who stood up to the intruders was Raman Bandarenka. Before that, he had posted in the neighborhood’s Telegram chat: "I'm coming out." Those were the last words written by Raman Bandarenka.
He was beaten right in the courtyard, then loaded into a minivan. Later, Raman was handed over to OMON officers, who took him to the Central District Police Department, and from there, to the hospital. He was in very serious condition. On the evening of November 12, Raman Bandarenka passed away.
The names of some individuals involved in the abduction and murder of Raman Bandarenka became known just a few days later. In 2021, the former Belarusian security forces association BYPOL conducted a thorough investigation into the case.
It was revealed that one of those who beat Raman Bandarenka was the world champion in Muay Thai and kickboxing, Dzmitry Shakuta.
Among others were SOBR officers Siarhei Sarman, Yauheni Tsimanouski, Siarhei Antsufeev, Aleh Buikevich, and Raman Savenka. According to BYPOL, these were the men who carried Raman Bandarenka into the minivan, continuing the beating along the way.
The former Belarusian security officers called the evidence provided in the investigation "ironclad," but the Prosecutor General's Office thought otherwise. In September 2021, it suspended the case on the grounds that it was "impossible to identify the person involved in the crime."
Today, those involved in Raman Bandarenka’s murder remain unpunished. This includes not only those who directly beat the deceased but also members of the group who arrived at the "Square of Changes" that evening to cut down white-red-white ribbons. These people received physical support from SOBR and OMON officers. The identities of those who were part of that group are known.
Among them are the dictator’s press secretary Natallia Eismant, her husband’s sister Hanna Eismant, the former head of the hockey federation Dzmitry Baskau, and others. According to Belarusian criminal law, these people are accomplices to the murder.
This year, commemorative actions were held in Vilnius and Warsaw in memory of Raman Bandarenka. In the Lithuanian capital, democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joined other concerned Belarusians in honoring the memory of the hero.
"I'm coming out," were Raman Bandarenka’s last words. He came out to protect our symbols, to stop the violence of the dictatorship, and to allow us to live in a free country.
Raman was only 31 years old. He sacrificed his young life for us. He became a Belarusian hero — as did many other Belarusians. Their sacrifices were not in vain.
As long as the violence of the dictatorship continues, we will continue to come out!
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