Investigation highlights mass torture at police department in August 2020

June 21, BPN. Human rights activists have said that detainees at Minsk’s Saviecki District Police Department faced beatings, torture and inhuman treatment as the government cracked down on protests that followed the presidential election on August 9-13, 2020.

Pravavaja Inicyjatyva and the International Committee for Investigation of Torture in Belarus interviewed 52 detainees, who also provided pictures and medical documents.

Some 400 to 600 detainees were held at the police department. Most of them were arrested in downtown Minsk. Police denied basic medical care to the injured and sick, and limited their access to drinking water and toilets, according to the report.

They forced detainees to stand in stress positions and deprived some of oxygen using plastic bags. Witnesses alleged that police might have been on drugs because they were too agitated and had dilated pupils. Department head Siarhiej Kalińnik personally directed and committed violence, the report said.

Former detainees said they felt uncontrollable fear even in the safety of their homes after what had happened.