Prisoners of penal colony in Hlubokae attempt suicide

Some prisoners of penal colony No 13 in Hlubokae (the Vitsebsk region) are unofficially reported to have attempted suicide.

BelaPAN news agency learnt this from Andrei Bandarenka, director of informational and educational association “Platform” engaged with observance of law in penal institutions.

A man, who has recently been released from the colony in Hlubokae, said that prisoners of penal colony No 13 went on hungry strike in June protesting against law violations by the colony authorities, including using physical force in cruel forms against inmates. Strikers demanded a meeting with the Belarusian Prosecutor General.

“In response, the colony administration organized mass beating of prisoners from June 16 to 22. Most of the prisoners who faced it were unable to walk without help, but they did not receive medical aid. Some prisoners had to resort to extreme measures of self-defence – a suicide attempt. Failing to find other means of self-defence, prisoners Kantsyava and Chykin (Kontyava and Chikin) cut their wrists and stomach,” Andrei Bandarenka said.

On the ground of these facts, “Platfoirm” association filed a request on July 27 to the Corrections Department of the Interior Ministry, the General Prosecutor’s Office and the internal security department of the Interior Ministry asking to investigate the incidents in penal colony No13 in Hlubokae.

The details will be disclosed at a press conference in Minsk on August 1. Witnesses of tortures, who remain anonymous for security reasons, are supposed to take part in the press conference.