Belarus detains gang linked to crimes from 1990s

Authorities in Belarus have detained four members of an armed criminal group linked to a string of violent crimes dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, the suspects were apprehended in the Vitebsk region following an investigation led by officers from a specialised anti-organised crime unit. The operation was carried out with support from the Almaz special unit, as per Belarus media.

The detainees, all previously convicted and residents of the regional centre, are believed to have been part of an organised armed group responsible for a series of serious offences. Investigators say the group carried out robberies, muggings, and extortion, and was also involved in the killing of a security guard at a private company whose owners had been targeted for money demands.

Officials said the case highlights ongoing efforts to solve crimes committed decades ago. “The meticulous work of investigators to solve crimes of past years never stops. All those responsible will receive the punishment they deserve, even decades later,” the ministry stated.

By Tamilla Hasanova