Police explain detention of Belarusian activist persecuted by Lukashenko

Belarusian opposition activist Makary Malakhouski was detained on Sunday in Piaseczno near Warsaw. He told the police officers he had a humanitarian visa and he had filed for international protection. The police detained him anyway on the basis of the Interpol red notice, issued by the Lukashenko regime. The red notice is usually issued after dangerous criminals.

Asked if the dissident's humanitarian visa and request for international protection weren't enough for him to not being detained, a Warsaw Metropolitan Police spokesman Sylwester Marczak replied: "First of all, let's not forget that when the police is carrying out an intervention, the basis for such action is a crucial thing for us. So, when the officers see information in the system regarding a person wanted by Interpol, then such person should simply be detained, and that's what was done in this case".

He added that the correct procedure is based on detaining a person and immediately notifying the prosecutor's office. "And we did exactly that," the policeman said.

Asked if the officers could have taken into consideration that red notices were used for political reasons, and if they lacked judgement in this case, Marczak replied: "We certainly should look closer at a few things. The first one being that the police is an institution whose task is to detain wanted persons".

He pointed out that prosecutors and courts were responsible for analysing the basis, adding that the police were aware of "how such situations are being exploited". "Hence, our signal sent over to the Interpol. This will be one of the topics of discussion during the summit, which will be attended by the chief of police and the Interpol secretary general," he explained.

He also mentioned a letter the police sent in July to the Ministry of the Interior and Administration Mariusz Kamiński, regarding interpretation of similar issues. "Of course, we are aware how this might look, but first and foremost, we are bound by agreements signed by Poland. We cooperate with the Interpol and other institutions, and we must follow the regulations," Marczak added.

He stressed that it wasn't about someone ordering Malakhouski's detention. He emphasised that information regarding Interpol red notices are sent to the international cooperation bureau at the Main Police Headquarters, and from there to a proper department. "In the case of the Warsaw Metropolitan Police, it would be the criminal department, which sends arrest warrant to a station located in the area of an Interpol-wanted person's place of residence. The moment we receive information about about a wanted person's place of residence, we do our best to carry out our duty," Marczak said.

He also shared details of Malakhouski's arrest carried out on Sunday. "The officers arrived before 10 p.m., knocked on the door, but no one was answering because of the music playing out loud, but the whole course of the intervention was very peaceful by both sides, as the police clearly stated the reason for their visit," he said. He emphasised that the Interpol red notice was the only reason, not violation of quiet hours.

As tvn24.pl reported, Makary Malakhouski, Belarusian opposition activist persecuted by Alexander Lukashenko regime, was detained by Polish police on Sunday evening.

He has already left the prosecutor's office. His plenipotentiary said "he has been released without ordering any preventive measures".