Death Squad (Belarus)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
215
|
| Country: |
Belarus |
| Date formed: |
Jan. 1, 1996 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
The Death Squad was appointed in 1996 by Lukashenko’s government, by Interior Minister Yuryy Sivakow acting on orders from Viktar Sheyman, the state secretary of the Security Council. |
| Date dissolved: |
Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
year
|
| Details of Termination: |
In 2014 sources still refer to these groups as being in existence. |
| Termination Type(s): |
none
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
no |
| Former Armed Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
person/minister
|
| Government Link(s): |
person/minister
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
|
| Training and Equipment: |
no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
no information |
| Shared Personnel: |
no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
no information
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
The main purpose of the death squads is to eliminate political opponents of president Lukashenko. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
|
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
unknown
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
The death squads killed and let disappear opposition politicians and journalists. They acted under Lukashenko’s orders when doing so. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
kidnapping/abductions; killing
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
|
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
Weapons and Training
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The group is linked to the interior ministry and high-ranking Belarusian government officials. It receives funding from the government. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD
Evidence
