27.05.2026

Safety is a priority: BGEU held a large-scale meeting with the leadership of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee

A large-scale preventive meeting between students and faculty with the leadership of the Minsk police was held at the Belarusian State University of Economics.

The event's keynote speaker was Police Colonel Nikolai Luzhinsky, Deputy Chief of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee. The following department experts also participated in the open dialogue:
• Police Captain Pavel Lemantovich, Senior Detective of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs' Cybercrime Department;
• Police Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandr Yatskovsky, Senior Detective for Particularly Important Cases of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs' Drug Control and Human Trafficking Department;
• Police Major Yevgeny Buiko, Senior Inspector of the Registration and Examination, Technical, and Road Supervision Department of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs.

The focus was on the most pressing issues that young people may encounter in their daily lives.

Cybersecurity: How to Recognize a "Fake Scam" and a Fake Online Store

Police officials have detailed a common online fraud scheme that often targets students and teachers.
• Telephone blackmail and calls from "management." Fraudsters often use complex authentication schemes. First, the victim receives a message purportedly from the head doctor of a clinic, the head of a company, or the rector of a university. This is followed by a call from a "law enforcement officer." The fake officer may send a photo of their ID or even set up a video call.

It's important to remember: genuine police officers or the Investigative Committee never conduct legal proceedings via video call or request financial transactions. All official legal proceedings are conducted in person and only in the buildings of local police departments (in Minsk, the District Department of Internal Affairs) or the Investigative Committee.
• Traps on Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok. Scammers create realistic store profiles with attractive stories, reviews, and discounted prices.

How can you tell a real store from a fake one?
Reputable online stores on Instagram typically include a link to their official registered website and physical address in their profile header. Furthermore, legitimate Belarusian sellers typically don't publish prices directly in posts or stories. This is because, according to Belarusian law, Instagram is not a marketplace—it only serves as an online storefront or portfolio, and purchases must be made through the official website.

Precautions: Before purchasing, check the store name using search engines or the official Minsk police Telegram bot @ScamBY_bot. If comments are closed on the account, and the manager rushes you to pay and demands 100% prepayment, refuse the transaction. Be vigilant when using cash on delivery and never click on suspicious links imitating Belpochta or Kufar websites—this is phishing.

Drug Trafficking: The Illusion of "Easy Money" at the Price of a Ruined Life
One of the most emotional parts of the meeting was the discussion of drug addiction. Alexander Yatskovsky emphasized that modern synthetic drugs cause severe addiction from the first use, ruining a person's health in a matter of months.

Complicity in the drug trade is no less dangerous. Young people, trying to find part-time work online, agree to become drug couriers.
• Harsh reality: According to statistics, the average time a drug courier "works" before being arrested is only about two weeks.
• Punishment: The minimum prison term for drug trafficking is six years, served in a penal colony.
• A deadly trap: escaping this criminal enterprise voluntarily is virtually impossible. The organizers intimidate couriers and, to punish debtors and "traitors," hire "sportsmen"—bouncers who brutally injure people for money.

What to do? If you or someone close to you has fallen into this dangerous trap, the only salvation is to immediately contact the police. According to Belarusian law, voluntary surrender of narcotics and active cooperation with the investigation exempt you from criminal liability.

Experts also urged people to pay attention to the behavior of loved ones: the presence of scales, duct tape, and Ziploc bags in the home is a warning sign that requires immediate action.

Domestic Violence: Why We Can't Stay Silent
The speakers discussed in detail the problem of domestic violence, which can be not only physical but also psychological. It has no age or gender distinctions—victims can include women, children, and men.

Police officers urged the audience not to be indifferent: if you, your neighbors, or someone you know has experienced domestic abuse, you must report it to your local police officer or call 911. Silence only gives the aggressor the green light to take further action. Violators face strict penalties: from fines and administrative arrest to placement in a rehabilitative-labor facility or criminal liability with a real prison term.

Road Safety in the Spring-Summer Season
Police Major Yevgeny Buiko reminded the audience of the basic rules of the road, which directly impact life:
1. Stay sober while driving. Driving while intoxicated is a crime. The penalty is a fine of up to 200 basic units and a driver's license suspension for up to 5 years.
2. New rules for cyclists and SPM users. Owners of electric scooters, hoverboards, and bicycles are required to dismount when crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing, unless the crossing is equipped with special bicycle traffic lights or appropriate markings.
3. Pay attention to the road. The main causes of serious accidents remain inattention, speeding, and driving without a driver's license.

Police Careers and Emergency Communications
At the end of the meeting, department representatives invited BGEU graduates and students to consider serving in the Minsk police. To successfully enter the profession, candidates must have a higher education, be in good health, and, most importantly, be a patriot of their country, ready to uphold law and order.

As a reminder, the official Telegram chatbot of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, "We Are Always Here," is available for quick communication with law enforcement agencies and prompt assistance.

The university administration and the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee express confidence that such meetings help foster a conscious attitude toward personal safety and law-abiding behavior among young people.

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