TV-sets should be provided in Akrestsina cells

When you enter the Center for Isolation of Law-breakers there is a feeling that you got to "the first twilight level", as in the movie "Night Watch" - some little flies fly everywhere. A small cell, the main area of which is occupied by the wooden "stage", a toilet, which is not separated from the entire cell, a basin nearby, a small shelf above the basin, and a trash bin. Prisoners sleep on the "stage" with no mattresses. Such conditions are most likely to be seen in Syria or Lebanon.

"A sleeping accommodation, even if it's a "stage" should be equipped with linen. I would like to quote the international standards of the UNO - a sleeping accommodation should be provided in the form which is acceptable in this area. I am sorry, but this is not Middle East, in our area it is accepted to use beds for sleeping", - says lawyer Pavel Sapelka.

Alena Dubovik got to this detention center and then complained about confinement conditions. The police...confirmed there were violations! However, they confirm it not for the first time, as it turned out.

"The Public Prosecution and the City Administration of Internal Affairs informed this not only to Alena, after inspections", — Pavel Sapelka says.

The "stage" on which prisoners sleep. 

Let us try to see how Akrestsina should look like in accordance with the Rules of internal regime for the establishments where people serve administrative sentences:

Benches, a table, a basin, a tap, a scuttle cask, a radio-set, a TV-set, if possible, a trash bin, ventilation equipment, windows of such size that they could provide enough daylight. And a separate sleeping accommodation. Shower should be provided at least once a week, and an everyday walk, for at least an hour. They also should provide soap, toilet paper, table games... 

In the reality, there is nothing of these in the cell apart from a hole in the floor, poorly separated from the entire cell, a basin and a tap. The "stage" performs the function of a table, a bench, a sleeping accommodation and even table games - a chess board is drawn right on it. Newspapers instead of toilet paper, no walks, prisoners stay in the cells where it is impossible to walk properly all the time.

This is all that a cell has, apart from the "stage". The pictures appeared at the web-site of the Young Front several years ago. Nothing has changed since then.

Pavel Sapelka thinks that it is necessary to file complaints so that they would redecorate Akrestsina. If this is impossible, then, according to the law, the detention center should be closed. 

According to the international "Charter of fundamental rights of prisoners" signed by Belarus, each prisoner must have a separate cell or room. It is undesirable to put two people in one room. If there are common cells they should make sure that prisoners can live togather in such conditions. Prisoners who wait for the trial should be kept separately from those who already stood trial. 

The UNO's  "Charter of fundamental rights of prisoners" was adopted back in 1955. These norms were called "minimal" at that time, which means that it could not be worse.