Investigation into the death of Ihar Ptischkin in jail sent for new trial

Zhana Ptsichkina has received an answer from the Office of Prosecutor General concerning the closure of the criminal case on the fact of death of her son Ihar Ptsichkin in remand prison No. 1 in Minsk.

In the reply it is stated that the Ruling concerning the closure of the criminal case of December 29, 2014, has been reversed and the case was again sent to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus for a new trial.

Moreover, additional materials, presented by Zhana Ptsichkina, have been filed for familiarization and attaching them to the case. Among them there are the photos of Ihar Ptsichkin during his reception to the remain prison, and 4 days later, after his death.

 The situation was commented by the lawyer of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Pavel Sapelka:

"As far as I know, Ihar Ptsichkin was suffering from the actions of the actions of the guards of the remand prison. What kind of actions were these is a secret of the investigation: Zhana Ptsichkina was prohibited to talk about it for fear of criminal prosecution. The actions of the employees of the remand prison, the persons who were on duty, were bringing suffering to the prisoner, doubtlessly being an act of forbidden cruel and inhuman treatment. Every state, including Belarus, must take effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures for preventing the facts of torture on any territory within its jurisdiction, and undertakes to prevent other acts of cruel and inhuman treatment and punishment which don't fall under the notion of torture (the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was signed and ratified by Belarus).

Each State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights undertakes to ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms as recognized in the Covenant, including freedom from torture and ill-treatment are violated, receives an effective remedy, even if the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity.

Unfortunately, the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus doesn't directly provide punishment for inhuman and degrading treatment by persons who act in an official capacity However, this must not ensue the impunity of such persons.”

Let us remind that Ihar Ptsichkin died fro cardiac arrest on August 4, 2013. The reasons of the cardiac arrest haven't been established. His relatives believe that he died as a result of the beating by the guards of the remand prison, as there were many bruises on his body.