From Hildburg Bruns
The entrance to the Lichtenberg train station is given a name: “Eugeniu-Botnari-Platz”. The homeless Moldovan was caught shoplifting and abused by the supermarket boss. He died three days later at the age of only 34. The intended award has now been published in the Official Journal.
HIS place is a difficult place, still. Twelve homeless people are loitering in front of the glass doors, and they occupy a few benches in the train station. Several men are wearing sports jackets with the federal eagle – presumably from official stocks after detention.
Eugeniu Botnari came to Berlin in 2015 and was fatally beaten by a supermarket boss in 2016 Photo: Police
There are three security men at the entrance to the Edeka supermarket. When a woman with a full car is pushed out, they call out: “But bring it back, yes?!”
In 2015, things weren’t so accommodating here. Branch manager André S. (then 29) took the law into his own hands and beat up the Moldovan who wanted to steal a liquor bottle. In the back of a drinks warehouse, he hit him in the face with quartz sand gloves and sent videos to employees. The supermarket boss was sentenced to three years and three months in prison in 2017.
The Moldovan had no health insurance, so hesitantly went to the doctor, who immediately referred him to the emergency hospital, where he died of a traumatic brain injury. Now his name is immortalized in the Berlin city map and that is a political issue.
The Greens in the district initiated the naming and were supported by the Left and the SPD – the CDU, AfD and FDP voted against. The Liberals in particular argued that Botnari was killed at will and not a victim of right-wing violence.
BZ asked around on the future Eugeniu Botnari Square and asked passers-by for their opinion on the renaming: “Of course it’s bad that he was killed. But I don’t think it’s good to be named after someone who stole,” says Wilhelmine A (83).
Nuri Turan (66) lives next to the train station and knew the victim by sight: “He was an alcoholic. The conditions here bother a lot of people. They also sit in front of our house, argue a lot and show no consideration.”
Gaby W. (62) from Wartenberg is also skeptical: “In my view, it was more of a case of vigilantism. There are many victims who do not get a place.”
Gaby W. (62) from Wartenberg wonders if the naming is the right sign Photo: Olaf Selchow
A majority of the Lichtenberg district office sees it differently, decided in April on the designation, which has now been officially published. The commemorative plaque should read: “There was no doubt in court about the right motivation for this inhumane act.”
According to the district office, the naming of the square should “send a clear signal that violence, racism, anti-Semitism and any other form of misanthropic discrimination have no place here in Lichtenberg.” As usual, an objection to such a decision is possible for four weeks.