Dozens Of Romani People Detained After Mahiliou Police Officer's Murder

Almost all the men in the two Mahiliou districts are now in detention.

At around 9 p.m. on 16 May, police raided Roma houses in Chapayeuka and Hryneuka districts of Mahiliou.

According to local residents interviewed by Radio Svaboda journalists, almost all men are now under arrest. The detentions are allegedly connected with yesterday's abduction and murder of a police officer.

"We learned from the police that a policeman had been killed in the city," – an elderly Romany, whose son and grandchildren were detained last night, said. She is afraid to disclose her name.

On Thursday night, she was visiting a friend when the police, wearing masks and guns, broke into the house and put everyone face down. Including the women.

According to this woman and her neighbours, yesterday the police came exclusively to the Romany houses in the Chapayeuka and Hryneuka districts. Some women were detained as well and spent the night in the police. Then the women were released, and about 30-40 men are still in custody.

"They say that until they find the criminals, our men will be kept there. They want us to look for those people through our Romany post," – the woman said.

She has lived in Mahiliou since childhood and does not remember such large-scale raids against Romani people.

"Are we responsible for all people of our nationality?

The Romani say they were treated very badly. One man got sick at the police station and was taken to hospital.

"We were threatened that they would not let us live here in peace," – the woman said.

Chapayeuka and Hryneuka are the places where the Romani live in Mahiliou. The locals confirm that a lot of police cars came here last night. But it is known that people of other nationalities were not detained.

In response to the question whether the information about the detention of the Romani in Mahiliou was true, representative of the Investigative Committee Yuliya Hancharova said:

"Police officers and experts continues together the investigation of the circumstances of the crime. Urgent investigative actions and operative-search activities are being carried out, witnesses are being questioned.

We are taking measures to obtain the maximum possible information," – Hancharova said.

A criminal investigation officer who is investigating the case has said about the Romani’s detention: "We do not give any comments, there is the secrecy of investigation, so no comments."

The press service of the Mahiliou region executive committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have not made any comments yet.