Today, September 25, a discussion forum titled "Prevention of Offenses Among Youth" was held at the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU). Students met with Nikita Bogatov, a district inspector from the Juvenile Affairs Inspectorate of the Internal Affairs Directorate for the Sovetsky District of Minsk.
The primary goal of these talks is to warn young people about dangerous situations that could result in criminal or administrative liability. The inspector immediately highlighted a key issue associated with the start of the academic year:
"September is traditionally a time when many first-year students move to a new city and break the law simply out of ignorance. This applies to a wide range of situations—from crossing the street in an unauthorized area to consuming alcohol in public places."
Instead, the speaker advised the students to value the reputation of the country's top technical university and to focus on their studies, participation in university projects, and constructive leisure activities.
The conversation then shifted to the topic of cybercrime. Nikita Bogatov discussed extortion, fraud, and the theft of digital information in detail. To make his points more compelling, he cited a real-life example: an eighteen-year-old young man was recently taken into custody for stealing computer data as part of a criminal group.
The participants also discussed the protection of personal data. Nikita Bogatov asked the audience to consider the following:
"Are you always certain that the person you are talking to online is truly who they claim to be?" Even a video call is not a reliable way to verify identity, as modern technology makes it easy to fake voices and faces—including the appearance of high-ranking officials.
Fraudsters often send fake voice or video messages posing as relatives or supervisors, and unsuspecting citizens end up handing over their money.
Another key topic was harmful content on social media and messaging apps. Nikita Bogatov spoke about Telegram channels where administrators profit from videos showing illegal acts—content that is often submitted by the users themselves. The inspector warned that law enforcement officers monitor such channels daily, identify the participants, and hold them accountable; the video itself serves as the primary evidence. The speaker also reminded the audience that possessing or sharing extremist or Nazi-related material carries severe penalties.
Towards the end of the meeting, students raised the issue of the health risks associated with e-cigarettes and reviewed dormitory regulations.
"Under the Code of Administrative Offenses, using electronic smoking devices in unauthorized areas is punishable by law. We regularly conduct dormitory inspections and frequently encounter such violations," Nikita Bogatov warned.
To wrap up the session, the speaker discussed traffic safety rules with the students, reiterating the importance of personal responsibility for one's actions. Such open discussions help students better understand the law, recognize threats early, and avoid ruining their lives over impulsive mistakes.
