150 days in a punitive isolation cell and not a single meeting in three years. The story of a former political prisoner from Zaslaŭje

Siarhei Monich, a former political prisoner from Zaslaŭje, served a three-year sentence in Mahilioŭ penal colony No. 15 for writing protest slogans. In September last year, Monich was released after spending a total of 150 days in a punitive isolation cell (SHIZO). But 56 days after his release, he was detained again for 15 days. Siarhei tells Viasna about his difficult experience and his decision to leave Belarus.

Monich was detained for the first time on August 9, 2020. In the prisoner truck, during the transfer to Žodzina, he was severely beaten. On August 14, the man was released, and the second detention took place on the evening of December 21. The Minister of the Interior Ivan Kubrakov was present; he was allegedly insulted by Siarhei. Before being brought to the police station in Zaslaŭje, he was beaten again. Initially, he was placed in the temporary detention facility of the Minsk district, then he waited six months for trial in Žodzina prison No. 8, and during the appeal he was transferred to Valadarka.

"The head of the penal colony is both the king and god, he can punish and pardon”

"The head of the colony, Aliaksei Lazarenka, constantly reads both Viasna and Nasha Niva. He is sincerely glad that his name is on the black lists. When I was released, he escorted me out with the words: 'Listen, give a proper interview to Belsat, make them flinch.'

But how does such information affect the places of detention? Now, for example, we will write that the conditions in the temporary detention facility of the Minsk district are better than in other places, and it really was so four years ago, and the staff there was more sensible and lenient. But I have something to compare it with: the conditions there are much worse now and the head of the administration has changed. Why? Because the information came out about it.

In the penal colony, there is a delicate balance between prisoners and the administration, but if someone writes about this, it all breaks down right away. Because for the system the worse it is, the better it is. Or you could ask: 'What is your squad leader like?'

'Oh, a nice dude...'

And for such an assessment, he can get a reprimand from his boss: 'Why are your convicts happy? They have to suffer.'

The head of the penal colony is both the king and god, he can punish and pardon, he can allow himself to shout at those who are lower in rank, raise his voice, humiliate captains and majors. In the penal colony, people inform on others and if the convicts talk well about you, then you are a bad employee in the eyes of the boss. And this is obvious.

In the penal colony you need to know who to talk to and what to talk about, since there are both secret informants and just snitches."

For three years, Siarhei was not allowed a single meeting because he was considered a "serious extremist."

A protest slogan saying "Tribunal" on the streets of Zaslaŭje in August 2020.

"I had already lost count of how many days I spent in SHIZO"

From March to June 2022, Siarhei was held in a punitive isolation cell, without bed linen, daily walks, calls, letters, and the possibility of buying in a prison shop. In three years, he spent 150 days in SHIZO. We asked Siarhei: "Why was it so?"

"Because that's how the system works. I had already lost count of how many days I spent in SHIZO. I am on the list of 'extremists', that is, 'prone to hostage-taking, attacking the administration, and showing aggression.' So after quarantine I immediately went to the punitive isolation cell. They make it clear where you got to. And then they use any formal excuse. For example, I tried not to attract attention. But then they call you for a talk, and you think that for no reason, it seems.

An evil boss is sitting there, and he shows you a photo in his smartphone and says, 'Do you recognize him?' And I see myself. Someone wrote about me. I was mentioned in some article.

He says, 'You know, one article there, ten days in SHIZO here. Don't get offended now.'

SHIZO has a strong effect on one's health. Well, first of all, it's the food. In a regular cell you can eat something in any case: drink tea, eat a slice of lard. Even if you don't have it yourself, someone will treat you. And in SHIZO they will give you pearl barley, potatoes, and low-quality bread. You quickly notice how you lose weight. And it's also cold, especially in winter. It's cold to sleep...

But it's scary to get into SHIZO only the first time, afterwards you gradually get used to it. When I was about three months away from being released, I decided: 'That's it, I'm not going to SHIZO anymore.' But every time something happens and you're back there.

I was released immediately from SHIZO, where I spent 14 days. At first it was 10, and I thought I would stay in the squad for four more days, say goodbye, but they found an excuse and added four days. I remember the day of my release: a warm September day, lots of sun..."

"It was very striking that night checks appeared there"

But Siarhei was free only for 56 days. When he came to report to the police once, an employee checked his phone and found a harmless message there.

"And suddenly they got interested in me again. I forwarded that message somewhere and didn't even remember it. I thought 'whatever will be, will be', but I told the officer that I would not testify against myself. Then she told me: 'I give you the word of the officer that I will not dig into you.'

They drew up a report for the dissemination of information containing calls for extremist activities and sentenced me to 15 days of detention. So four years later I got back to the temporary detention facility of the Minsk district. And the conditions of detention became much worse there. The cells were crowded, there were no mattresses, no bed linen. There were not enough places and I had to sleep on the floor. Reading was no longer allowed, and care packages were also banned.

It was very striking that night checks appeared there, and as soon as you fall asleep, they wake you up and you have to respond, name yourself."

After 15 days of detention, Siarhei realized that he needed to leave Belarus. Already in a safe place, he was met by friends and family. He got a job and confidence that it was the right decision to leave.