Rynkevich: the living conditions in Belarusian prisons are similar to torture

The Minister on Internal Affairs Vladimir Naumov must either take appropriate actions to improve the living conditions in Belarusian penitentiary establishments, or resign. The human rights activist Igor Rynkevich expressed this opinion in an interview to BelaPAN.

 According to the ex-presidential candidate Alexander Kozulin’s lawyer, “the living conditions in Belarusian prisons are similar to torture”.

Mr. Rynkevich noted that “especially severe human rights breach” the authorities use towards people, imprisoned for their civil activities and beliefs.

He reminded that after the enterpreneurs’ protest demonstration on the 10^th of December in Minsk the leaders of the protesters were arrested including Victor Gorbachev, Victor Kolej, Victor Krival, Alexander Makaev, Alexander Tsepuro, Victor Ivashkevich – one of the leaders of the BNF party, youth activists Boris Goretsky and Nicolay Sergienko.

“They were or still are in cold cells, the blankets and bedrolls were unlawfully taken from them, it is forbidden to pass food to them. Many of them are now ill and don’t have access to appropriate medical assistance”, – the human rights activist stated. 
 
Mr. Rynkevich also informed that the presidium of the Political Council of the United Democratic Forces had signed a petition dated 19^th of December, that contains the demand that the state “stops infringing on the rights of its citizens, protected by national legislation, international treaties, particularly the UN Convention against torture and other inhumane or humiliating treatment or punishment”.

The petition also contains an offer for the foreign diplomats to visit the democratic activists, imprisoned in the special isolator in Okrestina street. 
 
According to Rynkevich, the UDF appeals to the human rights organizations “to start a campaign against torture in Belarusian prisons”.

The human rights activist also thinks that the penitentiary establishments of Belarus should be subordinate to the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Internal affairs. “This measure would make the penitentiary system more transparent and open for public control”, – he states.