Doctors’ Case: Sentences Made Against Deputy Health Care Minister, Chief Of Medicine At Polyclinics

Uladzimir Krauchonak was handcuffed right in the courtroom.

Today, the Minsk City Court found defendants in a high-profile case guilty of accepting bribes and sentenced Deputy Minister of Health Ihar Lasitski to 6 years of imprisonment in a reinforced-security penal institution, with confiscation of property; and Chief of Medicine of the 12th dental clinic Uladzimir Krauchonak to five years in prison, reports tut.by.

10 minutes before the beginning of the trial, Uladzimir Krauchonak, who was under the house arrest during the proceedings, appeared in the courtroom. He refused any comments and sat on the first bench. Often, the defendants, for whom the prosecutor requested imprisonment the day before, come to the court with large bags, in sportswear. The Chief of Medicine came in a suit and shirt, he held a jacket in his hands.

As a result, the Minsk City Court found the defendants guilty of taking bribes and sentenced Deputy Minister of Health Ihar Lasitski to 6 years of imprisonment in a reinforced-security penal institution, with confiscation of property; and Chief of Medicine of the 12th dental clinic Uladzimir Krauchonak to five years in prison.

Uladzimir Krauchonak was handcuffed right in the courtroom.

The consideration of the criminal case by the court lasted for almost a month. In the last word, the Chief of Medicine of the 12th dental clinic Uladzimir Krauchonak asked not to deprive him of his freedom, to give him an opportunity to remain at liberty and bring good to the people.

- My correction can be achieved without depriving me of freedom. Given the experience and qualifications, I will bring people more benefit when free. As a saying goes: “the sword does not blame a head bowed in shame.” I ask you not to cut down the bowed head, not to deprive me of freedom, - the defendant, who was under house arrest before the verdict was announced, addressed to the court. He was even allowed to work at the clinic as an ordinary dentist.

Speaking with the last word, Deputy Minister of Health Ihar Lasitski asked the court for leniency.

- I fully admit my guilt with regard to all the episodes, I am in no way challenging any episode from the materials of the criminal case. I made all confessions voluntarily, without pressure. (...) My activity was marked by the National Assembly and the President, - said Lasitski.

According to the investigators, from 2013 to 2018, Krauchonak received $ 10,700, EUR 15,000, and BYN 1,500 as bribes. He took the money for making contracts for the purchase of medical equipment for the clinic and “favorable solution of the issues within his competence.” It turned out that the Chief of Medicine spent bribes on a trip with his wife to Paris, attending a congress in Barcelona, and paying for his daughter’s education at a medical university. Deputy Minister of Health Ihar Lasitski was charged with taking bribes in the amount of 10 thousand euros and 13,5 thousand dollars. He spent the money for an expensive treatment.

Speaking in the debate of the parties, Prosecutor Yury Sharsniou asked to find Krauchonak guilty under Part 2, Part 3 of Article 430 (repeated or large-scale bribe taking) and drop the charges under Part 2 of Article 424 (abuse of power or official authority). According to the Prosecutor, Lasitski’s guild under Part 3 of Article 430 (repeated or large-scale bribe taking) has been fully proven. Sharsniou asked the court to sentence the defendants to the minimum term.

The sentence has not entered into legal force and can be appealed.