May 15, Pozirk. Deaths in penal colonies and shortly after release indicate systemic problems in the provision of medical care for inmates, Pavieł Sapiełka, a lawyer with the Viasna Human Rights Center, said commenting on reports of the deaths of two ex-prisoners.
Hanna Kandracienka, 39, and Tamara Karavaj, 45, both persecuted on charges widely seen as politically motivated, died within months of their release.
Kandracienka had been held at a penal colony despite her cancer diagnosis, Sapiełka said, noting that a lack of proper medical care can be considered as torture or ill-treatment.
“The authorities are obliged to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of all prisoners,” he added. “If a serious illness, such as cancer, is detected, the necessary medical care should be provided, including the possibility of inpatient treatment at specialized facilities.”
Detention conditions, insufficient medical care and psychological pressure negatively affect the physical and mental state of prisoners, the activist noted.
Arbitrary detention in a penal colony for political reasons can be interpreted as “a crime against humanity,” Sapiełka stressed. “Each death of a political prisoner is something that adds up to the charges against those responsible for their persecution, arbitrary sentencing, detention in colonies and prisons, including those responsible for the health of prisoners.”
This spring, rights groups identified at least 219 high-risk inmates convicted in politically-motivated cases, including seniors and people with serious illnesses, disabilities and mental disorders.
As of May 15, human rights defenders identified at least 1,175 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.
