Human Rights Activists: Mikhail Zhamchuzhny’s Life Is Under Threat

The political prisoner has been beaten up in the Horki colony No. 9.

Human rights activists of the center Viasna have found out that political prisoner Mikhail Zhamchuzhny was beaten up in the Horki colony No. 9.

According to human rights activists, on January 24, the day of the political prisoner was left without protection and supervision in the corridor of the medical unit, where he was beaten up by another convict, wearing black glasses, knitted black gloves and a hat.

The attacker grabbed Mikhail Zhamchuzhny at the throat with his left hand hit him several times at the head. At the same time, the attacker threatened him that, if he met Zhamchuzhny in the colony, he would "cut him to bits."

The political prisoner filed a complaint about this incident with the prosecutor's office of the Mahiliou region.

Also, human rights activists report that on January 19 Zhamchuzhny was given three days in a punitive confinement for allegedly found dust in his cell. This is his 18th punishment since Mikhail Zhamchuzhny got into colony No. 9 in Horki.

According to the political prisoner, the administration of the colony decided to change the tactics, and now the penalties will be imposed not for refusals to go to the brigade of convicts formed from prisoners with "low status", as it was during the last half-year, but for "violation of the rules of personal hygiene" – they will make claims to the clothing, cleaning the camera and the like.

Mikhail Zhamchuzhny actively appeals against the penalties imposed on him. He sent a complaint to the Department of Execution of Punishments in the Mahiliou region for the punishments imposed on him in September and October 2017: September 4 – one month in a chamber type room, 10 days in a punitive confinement from October 5, 10 days in a punitive confinement from October 16 and 5 days in a punitive confinement from October 26. A cassation appeal was also filed against the decision of the Horki district court, which on January 23 refused to satisfy the complaint about the three penalties imposed on Mikhail Zhamchuzhny in August 2017 – 7, 10 and 7 days in a punitive confinement. A complaint was also filed in the Horki District Court against the last penalty – 3 days in a punitive confinement.