| Special Rapid Response Unit | |
|---|---|
| Спецыяльны атрад хуткага рэагавання Специальный отряд быстрого реагирования | |
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| Founded | 29 June 1999 |
| Country | Belarus |
| Branch | Internal Troops of Belarus |
| Type | Special police |
| Size | Unknown |
| Deployments | 2020–2021 Belarusian protests |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Aliaksandr Bykaŭ |
| Notable commanders | Dmitri Pavlichenko |
The Special Rapid Response Unit (Belarusian: Спецыяльны атрад хуткага рэагавання, romanized: Spiecyjalny atrad chutkaha reahavannia; Russian: Специальный отряд быстрого реагирования, romanized: Spetsialnyy otryad bystrogo reagirovaniya), abbreviated SOBR[a] or SAChR,[b] is a special police unit within the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Its current leader is Aliaksandr Bykaŭ.
SOBR is controversial for its role in attacks against members of the Belarusian opposition, for which it has been accused of being a death squad by various sources. The head of the force was sanctioned by the European Union for its role in the government crackdown on the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests. The unit also allegedly played a role in the enforced disappearances of opposition leaders Yury Zacharanka, Viktar Hanchar, and Anatol Krasoŭski in 1999, charges that it has denied.
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