The car was awarded to the winners of the professional skills competition among the units of the PPSM, OMON, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs

On Victory Square in Vitebsk, the solemn opening ceremony of the XII Republican Review-Competition of Professional Skills among units and employees of the patrol-guard service of the militia, special purpose militia detachments, internal affairs bodies of the Republic of Belarus for the S.I. Vasilievsky Prize took place.

For three days, law enforcement officers from all over the country had to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the most difficult situations. They had to pass a strict exam on criminal and administrative legislation, physical and technical training.

Opening the competition, the Head of the Main Department for Public Order and Prevention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Police Colonel Roman Melnik, noted that the patrol service is at the forefront of the fight against crime, it is the unit closest to the people. Therefore, when performing official duties, it is important not only to have deep theoretical and practical knowledge, but also to be morally and psychologically prepared for actions in difficult, and sometimes extreme, conditions.

Words of welcome were also heard from the First Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Dmitry Rezenkov, who emphasized that the review-competition has become a good tradition and annually brings together those who have dedicated their lives to protecting citizens, are selflessly devoted to duty and oath, for whom protecting the peace, life and health of people is not a profession, but a calling! Participants were also addressed by representatives of the Vitebsk diocese and veterans of the internal affairs bodies.

The participating teams were presented with loaves of bread, and the best city collectives: the "Na Rostanyakh" ensemble of the College of Culture and Arts, and the drum majorettes ensemble from Gymnasium No. 7 pleased everyone with a concert. In turn, the OMON fighters held demonstration performances.

In memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War, a wreath and flowers from the competition participants were laid at the Eternal Flame.

After the intense days of competition, the awards ceremony for the winners took place in a solemn atmosphere at the regional philharmonic hall.

Home and hearth help, this truth was confirmed by the Vitebsk fighters, winning

the main prize is a car. The second place went to the team from the city of Minsk, the third – to the Minsk region.

Svetlana SHIROKOVA, "Vitbychi". Photo by Vitaly Sapronenko.