Former Head Of The Gantsevich Police Escaped From A Psychiatric Hospital
28- 18.09.2026, 21:54
- 20,494
Photo: “Gantsavicki Chas”
Security forces and rescue workers were searching for him.
The former chief of the Gantsevich District Police Department Vitaly Kuleshov left the Baranovichi Psychoneurological Clinic without permission yesterday. In the Gantsevichi District—and beyond—the former district police chief is well known. He gained notoriety for a remark he made while detaining journalists: “Turn that s*** off, or I’ll get fired from my job tomorrow,” writes “Gantsavitski Chas”.
The publication reports that Kuleshov was known for carrying out illegal orders, which he himself passed down the chain of command to his subordinates. And in certain circles, he was also known for other shady dealings, for which he was ultimately removed from his position as chief.
He took over as head of the district police department in September 2019, bringing with him nearly two decades of service in law enforcement, and in his first interviews he spoke about the principles of service.
Then came 2020, and those discussions about principles were put to the test.
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On June 20, 2020, in the center of Hantsvichy, police detained participants in a “chain of solidarity.” Journalists from a newspaper who were broadcasting live were detained along with them. Vitaly Kuleshov later confirmed in court that he had participated in the detention.
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That’s where the famous story about the camera and Kuleshov’s line—which became an internet meme—originated: “Turn that s*** off, or I’ll get fired tomorrow.” It seems the camera really was the most inconvenient witness at the time.
Some of the information about what was happening at the Gantsevichsky District Police Department under Kuleshov has been preserved both in print and online. The reports in “Pershaga Region” also include accounts from relatives of those detained describing what happened after the detainees were brought to the police station. The mother of one of the detainees said that medical professionals later documented physical injuries on her son.
In the summer of 2021, Kuleshov’s career in law enforcement came to an unexpected end.
Before Kuleshov’s departure, questions arose not about his political loyalty, but about far more mundane matters: specific financial transactions, the distribution of bonuses, and the management of the district police department’s assets.
Later in life, the former district police chief experienced a severe crisis—a suicide attempt—after which he required psychiatric care.
As a result, he ended up in a psychiatric hospital, from which he left yesterday. The police and rescue workers were searching for him. He was found today.
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