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Rights defender urges UN rapporteur on torture to visit jail in Minsk

 

Human rights defender Aleh Volchak has urged the UN special rapporteur on torture to visit the detention center on Akrestsina Street in Minsk, where he says inmates are subjected to torturous and degrading treatment.

In his appeal to Juan Mendez, the activist says that it is too cold in the jail, even in summer, while its cells offer virtually no access to daylight and lack ventilation. A 40-watt bulb is on inside every cell round-the-clock, "it's impossible to read in such light conditions, one develops eye pain," writes Mr. Volchak, who served several jail sentences in the detention center.

Toilets in the cells are not separated from the rest of the area and are not cleaned and the cells are constantly filled with foul smell. The cells have no hot water and inmates are taken to a shower only once a week, according to the rights activist.

There are no separate beds in the cells and inmates have to sleep on one wooden bunk without any bedding. "No daily walks outdoors are offered, which means that inmates have to spend their entire terms inside small cells, without access to daylight and physical exercise," Mr. Volchak says.

According to the activist, the conditions in the detention center are in violation of several articles of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. //BelaPAN