Karayev: people got chemical burns of eyes due to irritant component used in water cannons
Some refugees got chemical burns of their eyes due to the irritant component that the water cannons contained – as announced by the President's Aide – Inspector for the Grodno Region, Yuri Karayev, BelTA reports
"Some refugees suffer from chemical burns of their eyes due to the tear-irritant component that was used in the water cannons. Some journalists were also hit by that water and said that their mucous membranes and eyes had been affected by the mixture of the water cannons," Mr. Karayev said.
As BelTA previously reported with reference to Igor Malyk, the Deputy Chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection and Ecology Office of the General Staff of Belarus’ Armed Forces, Polish law enforcement forces used special means containing toxic chemicals at the border on November 16th.
"We have witnessed how Polish law enforcement personnel used special means containing toxic chemicals of irritating effect against refugees, including women and children, on the Belarusian-Polish border. Thoughtless use of such means can lead to irreversible consequences for human health, damaging the respiratory organs and eyes. This creates the major danger for people with chronic diseases of these organs," Mr. Malyk said.
According to the official, the Defence Ministry is alarmed by the fact that such chemicals were used in these conditions. "Moreover, people stayed on the Belarusian territory. The Defence Ministry believes such actions should be legally evaluated,” Mr. Malyk added.
