Vasilevich refused to investigate tortures

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Belarus has forwarded to the Belarusian Military Prosecutor’s Office a petition to the procurator's office of Ales Byalyatski, a human rights activist. The petition concerns the facts of tortures used against a former presidential candidate, Alyaksei Mikhalevich.

It follows from the answer of the General Prosecutor’s Office, received by Byalyatski on March 16. The answer is signed by the senior prosecutor of the department for supervision over the legislative execution in the army and in transport industry S. Katrych, Radio Svaboda informs.

Thus, the body which role is to supervise over execution of laws in the country, has absolved itself of its direct responsibility for checking the facts in the petition – in such a way the human rights centre “Vyasna” characterizes this decision.

The document addressed to the General Prosecutor of Belarus Ryhor Vasilevich was sent in late February, when the public learnt the facts of tortures and inhuman treatment, which were revealed by Alyaksei Mikhalevich, released from the KGB jail on recognizance.

Ales Byalyatski asked to take appropriate measures of prosecutor’s reaction relating the facts of tortures revealed by mass media, and also to find and bring to criminal responsibility the persons who used tortures and other ways of inhuman treatment of inmates of the KGB jail and of the pre-trial detention centre #1 of the Interior Affairs Ministry.