Former meat factory director claims he suffered from police provocation

Last week, Minsk district court found the former director of Minsk meat factory Uladzimir Lazouski guilty of accepting a large-volume bribe. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison and property confiscation. He is also deprived of the right to work as a manager at public companies and bodies for 5 years. Lazouski claimed non-guilty and is set to appeal the sentence.

According to the prosecution, the director of the meat factory accepted $ 4,000 as a bribe from the head of Minsk construction company back in April 2013. However, the situation was under control of the officers from the economic crimes department who eventually arrested Lazouski.

According to Ejednevnik, Uladzimir Lazouski claims he was stitched up by the policemen as he did not satisfy them as a director of the meat factory. He says once they demanded that he provide them with food products from the factory "for some holiday celebration", for free. But the director told an economic crimes department officer to buy it in the factory shop.

The policeman did not deny in court that they had paid a visit to the director. Initially, he said they wanted to get the products of a higher quality, not for free, but then he changed his testimony. He stated he participated in the investigatory actions in order to check the information about the relations of the enterprise and the officials.