Confession of Investigator: “Tortures Used by Belarusian Police” :: Charter'97 :: News

The leader of Belarusian democratic forces Alyaksndr Milnkevich has received a letter from an investigator of the police department of Voranava district, Hrodna region, Paval Melko. The letter of the investigator tells about facts of using tortures against persons under investigation. “A standing practice of using tortures to extract confessions and evidence exists and is developing in the law-enforcing agencies of Belarus. The system of tortures is the main method of obtaining facts of evidence and includes both psychological pressure and physical effect, like the use of electric shock, smothering and other ways of blocking respiratory tract, poisoning by tear gas and neuro-paralytic agents, battery, straining of tendons, piercing of gums by an awl, and so on. People are maimed, their bones broken; people are deprived of sleep, rest, water or food. Some cannot bear tortures, faint, try to commit suicide. Such people, tired from tortures, leap out of windows of offices. I have witnessed that many times, and I am ready to convey information on that,” the letter reads. We offer a shortened version of the letter.

“On initiative of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, in Belarus criminal cases are forged against “undesirable” persons. When evidence is insufficient, they are forcibly isolated in psychiatric facilities.

A.Lukashenka has a black list of “undesirable” persons. He directs the work of his law-enforcing agencies against them, for their elimination. Thus dissent with Lukashenka’s policies is cruelly cracked down upon.

With the help of law-enforcing agencies the authorities have established a totalitarian control over the personal life of Belarusian citizens. On A. Lukashenka’s order telephone talks are wiretapped, letters of citizens are read; a system of police information, registration and so on, exists. Belarusian citizens live in a constant fear and are afraid of expressing criticism against Lukashenka and the regime, as they could disappear, be imprisoned, placed to a psychiatric facility, fired. High-ranking officials undesirable for Lukashenka have disappeared.

The laws are not obeyed as far as representatives of the establishment and their families are concerned. The system of power is corrupted from top to bottom, and by Lukashenka’s order it is decided who should be imprisoned, and who shouldn’t. Many innocent persons are kept in prisons and psychiatric facilities of Belarus under forged accusations.

In autumn 2005 Lukashenka made a televised speech. His speech contained accusations against Catholic priests. He charged Roman Catholic priests and Catholic Church in general of promotion of dissent against him and being a breeding-ground of opposition movement. He had been always stating and states now that opposition movement is a threat to stability and security of the Belarusian state. In this connection, by that move A. Lukashenka outlawed Roman Catholics and incited national and religious enmity. All Poles in Belarus are Catholics, that is why Lukashenka’s obvious aim is to infringe the rights of the Poles, and influence the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus. This all is done in close cooperation of A. Lukashenka and his government with the Orthodox Church in Belarus. Recently government authorities have stepped up cooperation with the Orthodox Church in Belarus. As a result, a number of documents were signed. The Belarusian state has ceased to exist as a secular state, which is stipulated by the Constitution. Besides, on Lukashenka’s order criminal cases not only against Catholics, but against representatives of other religious minorities have been framed up. Some of them were forcibly placed to psychiatric facilities. I was a witness of that, and can provide concrete facts.

As for electoral rights, results of the parliamentary elections and presidential elections have always been falsified by order of Lukashenka by state-controlled agencies. I witnessed as before the presidential elections on March 19, 2006 the authorities pressed people at all enterprises, organizations, and in collective farms to take part in the early vote and to vote only for Lukashenka, otherwise they could face dismissal from job, not receiving medical services, eviction from universities, sending students to areas contaminated after the Chernobyl catastrophe under forcible contract.

By order of Lukashenka the authorities told law-enforcing agencies to detain persons, distributing oppositional printed materials, containing criticism of his dictatorship. Such persons were detained and printed materials were seized without any grounds. In April 2006 by his order law-enforcing agencies of Belarus detained oppositionists for 10 or 15 days in the place of their residence with the aim to prevent them from taking part in demonstrations in Minsk. I know such facts.

The neighbouring Russian Federation turns a blind eye to absence of democracy and violations of basic human rights in Belarus. In return it has received an opportunity to use Belarusian territory as a sanitary military cordon from the Western states. Russian nuclear weapon, Russian military installations and troops stationed at the territory of Belarus.

I have called attention of higher authorities to these violations, but all my addresses were ignored, and leverages were used against me for that. As a representative of Belarusian authorities, have been forced to violate rights and freedoms of citizens many times. I cannot bear the lawlessness and the dictatorship of Lukashenka any more. That is why I openly make a protest and ask to draw attention of the world community to that. I am doing that despite of possible against me and my family”

Investigator (pre-trial investigation) of the Internal Affairs Department of Voranava district executive committee, Hrodna region,
Pavel Felixavich Melko

Photo: Disband of the rally on July 16, 2006