Man Dies in Prison Awaiting Trial

On September 20, a 37-year old man unexpectedly died in Zhodzina prison No8.

Ihar Barbashynski had been awaiting trial for two months, charged with malicious disobedience and beating a police officer on duty, reports Novy Chas newspaper.

In March, Ihar was detained together with his brother for being drunk. The next day the men were taken to hospital where X-ray shots registered that one of them had broken ribs and bruises. They filed a complaint to the Slutski police department on having been beaten by police. Then, they found out that a case had been opened against them for violent actions against police officers. In June 2016, they were arrested and taken to Zhodzina detention center.

In August, three hearings took place. The brothers motioned to hold a special examination that would prove, in their view, that they had taken no violent actions against the police.

On September 20, their mother Halina received a phone call inviting her to pick up the body of one of them on the next day. The reasons for the death have not been reported yet.