116 cases for crimes against sexual integrity initiated in Vitebsk region in January-May

June 13, Vitebsk. For five months of this year, 116 criminal cases were initiated in the field of crimes against sexual inviolability or sexual freedom in the Vitebsk region, most of which were committed against minors. This was reported to a BelTA correspondent at the USC in the Vitebsk region.

“In January-May, 116 criminal cases of this category were initiated in the Vitebsk region against 61 people. Of these, 13 criminal cases were initiated under Article 166 of the Criminal Code (rape), 22 under Article 167 (sexual assault), and 22 under Art. 168 (sexual intercourse and other acts of a sexual nature with a person under the age of 16) - 27, under Article 169 (lewd acts) - 43. Crimes of this category are also being investigated for coercion to acts of a sexual nature, organization and use of prostitution or the creation of conditions for prostitution, involvement in prostitution or coercion to continue prostitution”,- said Alexander Gutsko, head of the USC for the Vitebsk region.

As statistics show, children are most often written on social networks and messengers, imposing a conversation of a sexual nature, sending them photos and video files containing pornographic materials, forcing them to make pornographic images with their participation, etc. Cases of violence against minors are recorded both with the participation of strangers and in families where crimes are committed by relatives.

“Such crimes are revealed during the work of police officers, investigation of criminal cases, when investigators find out new episodes of criminal activity, from the information received from health care institutions that report revealed facts of sexual intercourse of children. Sometimes a child tells about what happened to a teacher, his relatives and friends "The victims are interviewed by psychologists in child-friendly rooms and socio-pedagogical centers. A confidential conversation is built with the children, where the child can feel calm, open up to a specialist and tell about what happened," the head of the USC said.

Oleksandr Gutsko added that there are also cases when parents know about a crime committed against a child, but do not contact law enforcement agencies. For example, this year, investigators from the Vitebsk region sent a criminal case to court against an 18-year-old boy who had committed sexual acts with his younger sister several times over the course of three years. The mother became an eyewitness to such a crime, but she did not immediately turn to law enforcement agencies. The incident became known when the woman was able toalcohol intoxication blabbed about what had happened. The minor girl was seized from the family and transferred to a social shelter. The court sentenced the guy to 8 years in prison.

Investigators also completed the investigation of a criminal case against a 53-year-old man . It was established that the accused committed sexual acts with minors, nine children suffered from his criminal actions. The accused worked at construction sites where minors came to earn extra money. The man had previously been prosecuted for similar crimes, and he spent more than 20 years in prison. It follows from the materials of the criminal case that while at the workplace, the man periodically consumed alcohol. With the sanction of the prosecutor, a measure of restraint in the form of detention was applied to him.

Investigators are working on a criminal case against a 35-year-old man who for 8 years on social networks sent messages of a depraved nature to children, and also used a minor to produce pornographic materials, persuaded to have sexual intercourse and committed other acts of a sexual nature with minors . More than 85 victims of his criminal actions have been identified. The accused is in custody.

“Pay more attention to children, ask how they spend their free time, with whom they communicate on social networks and instant messengers. your children, and in relation to other guys," Alexander Gutsko stressed.