Kalesnikava faces torture in colony, report says

The International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus recently presented its report "Torture and maltreatment in the Women's Colony No. 4 in Homiel".

It describes the living conditions in the units, the atmosphere in the colony, how and where women prisoners work, and how much they are paid for their work. The human rights activists also draw attention to the illegal punishments inflicted on women prisoners.

The document's authors studied 20 interviews with female ex-convicts who served their sentences in penal colony No. 4 between May 2021 and February 2024.

Euroradio quotes excerpts from this research.

Punishment commission

There is no such concept in Belarusian legislation, but in practice, decisions on punishments are made by this very "commission." As human rights activists write, it consists of the colony head, operational officers, the head of the correctional process, a psychologist, and the head of the department whose inmate is considered in the report. All of them exert psychological pressure on the prisoners.

The list of violations for which prisoners can be punished is very long.

"I was on duty at the gate. The superintendent, a real snitch, who is in cahoots with other policemen, said: "...you need to go to the gate right now, because they are already calling the political prisoners, another person will stand here instead of you. Unsuspecting, I went there. And the next day they said I had left the duty. Just like that, I had another reprimand. I became a malingerer..."

Prisoners are reported for talking during formation, going off duty, having expired medication, having things that are forbidden or not listed in their inventory, breaking the schedule, and using foul language. Reports are also often filed for uniform violations.

The real reason for the punishment and the violation of the report does not always coincide.

Punishment for "familialism"

The administration fights in every possible way against manifestations of mutual help and support among prisoners. There is even a term for this: "familialism". Any action aimed at caring for another person, or simply friendly relations, can be considered a violation. Helping other inmates is also prohibited, as it is considered using other inmates for selfish purposes.

The cage is placed in such a way that it can be seen by as many prisoners as possible on their way to and from work, which causes additional humiliation and suffering to the punished. The staff and prisoners call it the "cage of shame".

"This cage is put on display for all to see. When all the prisoners go to the factory and back, they put the punished ones in the cage for everyone to see, like in a zoo...".

Other prohibitions

Another punishment used in the colony was a ban on visiting the hall and gym and a ban on other prisoners communicating with the "guilty." The authorities may have withheld letters or had them torn in front of the "guilty." The toilets were sometimes closed for the whole unit.

"Titanic" is a method of punishing prisoners, where two buckets of water are taken and poured down the corridor. And the convict being punished must wipe the whole floor with a cloth as fast as possible. This is done on one's knees, as quickly as possible, and is accompanied by some remarks, mainly of an insulting nature".

Provocations

Provocations organized by prisoners on their initiative or at the direction of the administration are often used to impose punishments on political prisoners. The "activists" of the department and the head housekeeper are directly involved in the psychological pressure and intimidation of political prisoners.

In addition, other prisoners may physically assault political prisoners on the orders of operational officers. If they fulfill the administration's instructions, such prisoners can be encouraged or lenient.

"The operative gives the 'attack' order.... And since in the 9th detachment almost everyone works for an operative, it is possible to give an order to anyone or anyone. This person plants a needle, then suddenly a search comes, finds the needle or the knife from the machine, and a report is filed for possession of a prohibited object".

"...one girl was beaten very, very badly, and the operative gathered the whole unit in a separate room, in the educational work room, and brought out 5-6 girls to beat up one girl".

The most common method of provocation is to plant prohibited items (pills, needles, blades) into the personal belongings of political prisoners kept in the wardrooms, in their beds, and in the pockets of their clothes.

After two years in the colony, she was urgently hospitalized. The sharp deterioration of Maryia's health and the urgent operation she underwent (a perforated stomach ulcer) was caused by the harsh conditions of her confinement in the prison cell and the untimely medical care.

"...that day Masha Kalesnikava was not well, she was taken to the city for an operation. All the inspectors, everyone was busy with her transportation, security, movement, and they did not open the parcel window at the checkpoint that day. It was the first Saturday in December 2022."

According to the released women, Maryia was originally in unit 18, considered a "press unit." From the administration's side, she is given the closest attention and unbearable conditions of existence. The administration aims to break her will and strength, which they have failed to do so far.

"Masha Kalesnikava was first sent to the SHU because she had lent her watch to another girl to keep track of time. Again, Masha Kalesnikava is alone in the unit, that is, there is no political prisoners with her, it is forbidden to talk to her at all".