In Sambir law enforcement officers rescued 15-year old girl from death group “Blue Whale”

In Sambir in the Lviv region police officers helped the 15-year old student from a local college to get out of the “Blue Whale” death group.

As reported by Galina Androshchyk, the Chief Inspector of juvenile prevention of the Sambir Department of the Administrative Police, to the reporter of the Human Rights Information Centre. 15-year old girl, who was a member of the death group, turned to the police. Girl said that she registered in the “Blue Whale” quest on “VKontankte” social network out of curiosity. A man, who identified himself as administrator of the game, called her and set a number of tasks that she had to perform. At first she did not take the “game” seriously, but when she received the next task – to draw whale image on the arm and cut it out with blade, the girl got scared and tried to avoid the further instructions of the organizers. However, she started receiving threats and demands to carry out new tasks.

Frightened student turned to the police.

After psychologists, college teachers and parents have worked with the girl she realized the danger of possible consequences of this deadly quest. Her webpage in “VKontakte” social network was deleted with the help of police officers and law enforcement officers are conducting investigations to establish identities of involved people, who were threatening the girl and are involved in creation of dangerous game.

On February 22, criminal proceeding was opened under the Article 129 part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (threat to kill), which is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months or restriction of liberty for up to two years.

As a reminder, recently law enforcement officers have repeatedly appealed to parents to protect their children from “Blue Whale” game. They are calling the popularity of this game among teens threatening and the game itself as deadly.

“The game has many names “Tikhiy dom” (a quiet house / silent house), “More Kitov” (a sea / a bunch of whales), “Razbudi menya v 4:20” (wake me up at 4:20 am), but result is also the same – a child suicide. According to the rules, the child must perform a variety of quests associated with self-harm”, – said in the statement of the Prosecutor’s Office of Cherkasy.

In addition, children began participating in a dangerous game called “Ischezni na 24 chasa” (Disappear for 24 hours). The main point of this game is that the child must leave home and do not come back for 24 hours.

“Because of their age development children may become victims of crimes or get involved in criminal activities, as well as receive fatal bodily injuries”, – said law enforcement officers.

Law enforcement officers are asking the parents to pay more attention to the psychological status of adolescents and to prevent their participation in the games.

Government officials are asking the parents to check whether there are cuts and drawings on the child’s body, do not allow children to constantly sit in social networks, but instead organize their leisure.