"Minsk shooter's" wife: they seized him, he broke away and bullets flew

Wife of Mikalaj P., who shot the police officer dead and then killed himself, according to the official version, is the only witness of the tragedy, not connected with the police. We found her in the evening after the cremation of her husband’s body. At first she was afraid, but finally agreed to talk.

Wife of Mikalaj P.: "When the police arrived, he was outside, he came up to them and asked: "What do you want, guys?" And they replied "Somebody told us you had weapons". He said "Oh, my God, what weapons? Am I a criminal, a terrorist, did I kill someone, or maybe I am schizophrenic? Guys, come on!" They twisted his arms... He said "What do you think you are doing?" And I thought, why beating him? He is not an alcoholic, he's a decent, intelligent person. He is 59. And those two, who pinned his arms to his sides, were young. One was a big block... I just returned from work then. I came outside, wearing a bathrobe and socks. I decided to get back to the house to put on a warm jacket and flip-flops. During this time, he apparently tried to break away, and run to the garage to hide there. And then the fire started, bullets flew. I was scared and jumped into the house, and after that I saw or heard nothing."

Euroradio: Did you see who started shooting first?

Wife of Mikalaj P.: "I cannot say this, I didn't see anything. I can only tell you one thing, when my neighbour was returning from work, the garage door was open. She thought "Why there are so many people at Mikalaj's?" She came into the garage to check and saw him lying half-naked on the floor, with a bullet in his back and two bullets in his stomach, and his face was beaten off. And she started screaming "Dear people, what have done to this man?"

Euroradio: How come there were weapons, bullets, gun powder and books about guns, in the house?

Wife of Mikalaj P.: "I didn't see anything of the kind. I didn't come to the garage. There was a full house of people during the search. They threw things out of all rooms, closets, lifted sofas, put everything upside down. I asked them "Please, be careful". They behaved more politely later. I did not go outside and saw nothing".

Euroradio: There was information that your husband used to shoot dogs and cats and that you don't live together...

Wife of Mikalaj P.: "Don't say so! On March 1 it would have turned 39 years since we are together. He did not drink, smoke, he believed in God. He never denied help to anyone. He was like ambulance, he was ready to go anywhere by a call. When people's house burnt, he came there and worked, for free, just because the people suffered. When someone broke the car on the road, they called him and asked if they could stay at his place, and he said, of course, please come, it is so cold outside..." (at this moment someone approached Mikalaj's wife and whispered something in her ear emotionally. The conversation ended).

Euroradio reminds, the incident happened at Mashynistau St. in Minsk on January 8. According to the official information, the police squad arrived upon a call: a man (Mikalaj P.) shot the dog. The policemen wore no body armour despite this information. The conversation ended in shooting. The Mayor was wounded, warrant officer Ivanchyk was killed, Mikalaj P. committed suicide in the garage.