Torture used against Zhodzina prisoners

Several persons convicted of involvement in the 6 July “silent protest” were reportedly subjected to torture at the prison of Zhodzina, Minsk region.

Siarhei Kreida, Siarhei Kalasouski and Alena Savich say they were beaten and denied medical aid during their detention in the prison.

Siarhei Kreida was sentenced to 10 days of arrest and had to serve his term first in Minsk detention center and later in Zhodzina prison, where he, together with other convicts, was beaten by policemen. According to Mr. Kreida, he was denied medical aid.

After their release, the prisoners were taken out of town, despite the fact they were to be met by their families.

Siarhei Kalasouski and his wife Alena Savich were arrested outside the National Library on 6 July and sentenced to 7 and 10 days of arrest respectively. According to Mrs. Savich, Minsk policemen used foul language after the couple was taken to a police station.

After the arrest, they were taken to Minsk detention center, where there were 5 beds only, with 8 detainees in the cell. Similarly, there were only 8 beds for some 20 persons in the cell where Mr. Kalasouski had to spend several nights, before all the prisoners were taken to Zhodzina.

The prisoners were transported there in over-crowded police buses and met by masked policemen with dogs. They were then undressed and searched. The transportation was reportedly accompanied with abuses and threats. The cells in Zhodzina prison were in terrible sanitary condition: the toilets were not properly fenced off, due to poor food quality some of the prisoners had stomach problems.

“The guys were taken to an underground garage, where they were met by a masked policeman. We were forced to come through a corridor, where we were beaten and intimidated”, says Siarhei Kalasouski.

Mr. Kalasouski and Mrs. Savich also say after their release the prisoners were taken out of town in unknown direction. Meanwhile, their money, documents and personal belongings had been seized (former prisoners did not even have shoe-laces).