Health of Zmitser Bandarenka deteriorates sharply in detention facility

The political prisoner is being killed in the Interior Ministry’s detention facility.

As charter97.org learnt, coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign Zmitser Bandarenka has been transferred to a medical unit. He cannot move his legs..

Zmister has already written in a letter that he needs an urgent consultation with a neurologist and hospitalization due to acute back pain and slow losing control over his leg. He applied to the detention facility administration, but has not received the necessary medical aid. Now, both his legs are paralyzed, the political prisoner cannot move because of acute pains.

Zmitser wrote in a letter of June 10:

“In February, when I was in the KGB jail, I had aggravations with my back, ulcer, gout, and intestinal tract. I underwent biochemical blood assay, which was very bad. They check every day if I am still alive. I asked the chief to permit me to see a neurologist, to undergo MRI, gastrofibroscopy, and another biochemical blood assay. In those conditions my life was under threat. I asked this because the jail medical assistants said it was possible. The jail chief confirmed it would be done. Then they probably received an order not to treat political prisoners. I was given only pills. No promises were fulfilled. When I was waiting for my transfer to this jail, the KGB jail chief said there was the republican hospital with good doctors in this detention facility and promised I would be examined and treated here.

I was transferred, but my appeals for medical aid, my documents and epicrisis remained in the KGB. It is impudent, but they did not send the documents. I asked for medical aid about 20 times in connection with my ulcer, gout, swollen knees, high temperature, inability to walk due to back pains and leg paresis, stomach and intestinal tract. I applied to the detention facility chief asking to render medical aid to me, due to the diseases that aggravated in custody.

A week later, a neurologist visited me in presence of a chief doctor of the jail medical unit or one of chief doctors from the republic hospital, I don’t know exactly. On that day I was able to submit senior lieutenant Grigory copies of my discharge reports from the fifth hospital, an experts’ opinion on ulcer, MRI results, copies of doctor’s opinion from Nordin hospital on gout and arthritis. After a letter from Migalski (a Polish MEP who adopted Zmitser Bandarenka – charter97.org), I was allowed to talk to the jail chief, who promised I would see a neurologist and undergo tomographic examination next week. It will be either this week or in a week. I am waiting.

Then another officer, who occupies a lower position, called me and asked if I want to speed up a transfer to a correctional colony. I said I must end reading court records and I was promised to visit a neurologist and undergo MRI. He said: “Well, you can go.” So, I can be moved to Zhodzina. They know that I had problems with health. “Stool pigeons” are constantly asking how my back is. Someone seems to have a scenario to completely ruin my health. That explains these cruel games. How can I serve my prison term if I can hardly move?”

We remind that a cassation appeal against sentence to Zmitser Bandarenka will be heard on July 15. He will stay in the Interior Ministry’s detention facility in Minsk until this date. Zmitser Bandarenka was arrested in early hours of December 19 at home and has spent over 6 months in prison. On April 27, the Pershamaiski district court of Minsk sentenced Zmitser to two years in a minimum security penal colony.