This date was not chosen by chance – it was on 12 September 2011 that the Head of State, Alexander Lukashenko, signed Decree No. 409 "On the Establishment of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus".

What is the essence of an investigator's work, and how many criminal cases have been initiated by Lepel investigators this year?

The Day of the Preliminary Investigation Officer is a day dedicated to those thanks to whom we sleep peacefully at night and feel safe walking the streets of our hometown.

"What is the essence of an investigator's work?" we ask the Head of the Lepel District Department of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Pototsky.

"The main requirement is strict adherence to the law, which must be the sole guide in our work. However, an investigator is not just an executor. When investigating a criminal case, they are obliged to analyse the causes and conditions that contributed to the crime, as well as to take measures to compensate for the damage caused."

A key role is played by the reconstruction of the events of the crime based on the evidence discovered during the preliminary investigation. Psychological knowledge is important in an investigator's work, helping to collect and analyse diverse facts, on the basis of which it is possible to reconstruct the picture of the incident, understand the relationships between the participants, and study the personality of the offender.

The work of investigators includes attending crime scenes, collecting evidence, and investigating criminal cases, which requires a demanding schedule and constant duty shifts.

An atmosphere of mutual understanding and support prevails within the team of the Lepel District Department of the Investigative Committee. When needed, each employee will offer useful advice, provide support and encouragement. The team is constantly being rejuvenated. For several years in a row, young specialists have been joining us.

Lepel investigators cooperate closely with the District Department of Internal Affairs and the District Prosecutor's Office. As part of the investigative-operational group, they are on duty and attend crime scenes. Once sufficient evidence has been gathered and the guilty party identified, the materials are sent to the prosecutor's office, and from there, to the court. Since the beginning of the year, Lepel investigators have initiated 129 criminal cases. The majority of crimes involve theft. Crimes in the sphere of high technologies and cybercrime are taking the lead. The list of investigations also includes cases of hooliganism, traffic accidents, evasion of child support payments, and offences within the family and domestic sphere, among others.

— On the eve of our professional holiday, I wish the team to always be a cohesive and friendly unit, to boldly face challenges and confidently overcome them. Dear colleagues, I wish you strength, health, well-being in all your endeavors, endurance, success, and optimism, — noted Alexander Vladimirovich.