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Dmitriy BalabaCommander of the OMON of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee (since 2016), police colonel
Date of Birth: 01.06.1972
Country:  Belarus |
Content:
Early Life and Military Service
Born on June 1, 1972, in the village of Gorodilovo, Dzyarzhynsk District, Minsk Region, Dmitry Balaba attended Gorodilovo Secondary School. Prior to joining the police, he completed vocational school and served in the military, retiring as a reserve officer.
Police Career
Beginning in the patrol service of the Molodechno police, Balaba served with the Vilnius OMON's company and platoon until its disbandment due to its involvement in the 1991 August Coup. He joined the OMON in 1993 and was transferred to Minsk in 1995.
Between 1999 and 2000, Balaba led the 4th operational platoon of the Minsk City Executive Committee's OMON. From 2002 to 2016, he commanded the OMON's 2nd company. In May 2016, he was appointed Head of the OMON of the Minsk City Executive Committee's Main Internal Affairs Directorate.
Political Activism and Sanctions
Balaba has been actively involved in suppressing opposition rallies for many years. On October 2, 2020, he was placed on the EU sanctions list for "his responsibility, as Commander of the OMON in Minsk, for the OMON's campaign of repression and intimidation in Minsk following the 2020 presidential elections, including arbitrary arrests and violent treatment of peaceful demonstrators, including torture, as well as the intimidation and violence against journalists."
Family
Balaba is married to Tatyana Balaba, a customer service specialist at Belarusbank. He has two sons: Artem Balaba, born March 31, 1994, who serves as Commander of the 2nd Platoon of the Minsk City Executive Committee's OMON, and Maksim Balaba, who attended the Minsk City Cadet School named after M.V. Frunze.
Awards
Balaba has received several medals for his service, including:Medal "80 Years of the Belarusian Police" (1997)
Medal "For Impeccable Service" 3rd Degree
Medal "For Impeccable Service" 2nd Degree
Medal "For Impeccable Service" 1st Degree (2015)
Medal "For Services in the Protection of Public Order" (2017)
