{"id":144044,"date":"2025-06-25T12:38:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T09:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/144044\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"former-prisoners-say-penal-colony-extorts-donations-from-inmates","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/144044\/","title":{"rendered":"Former prisoners say penal colony extorts donations from inmates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

June 25, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The administration of Penal Colony No. 17 in \u0160k\u0142o\u016d has been offering prisoners access to the gym, phone calls home, improved nutrition, early release and other privileges in exchange for “donations” ostensibly used to upgrade facility infrastructure, according to an investigation by human rights organizations. For political prisoners, these payments offer no perks\u2014only protection from abuse, the report claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigation, conducted by Pravavaja Inicyjatyva and the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus, describes the colony as a relatively modern institution with advanced infrastructure, up-to-date household and computer equipment and well-developed production facilities. The economy of the colony, the report states, relies heavily on inmate labor and a \u201cwell-organized extortion system\u201d of coerced donations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inmates convicted of economic crimes are often able to “buy their way out of trouble,” the report found. However, once they begin making payments, the administration allegedly pressures them to continue. \u201cThey have become the main thieves,\u201d one former political prisoner said of the colony\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political prisoners, in contrast, are offered no material benefits in return for their donations. Instead, they are promised neutrality: \u201cWe won\u2019t touch you at all, and you surely won\u2019t end up in the punishment cell, unlike the others. So, we won\u2019t make your life better\u2014but we won\u2019t make it worse either,\u201d one source quoted officials as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The average donation is around \u20ac1,000, typically paid by inmates\u2019 families. \u201cYour relatives should send money to the account of this criminal [someone who collaborates with the administration] account. The criminal will transfer it for renovations of the industrial zone, and you will get a privilege,\u201d another source described how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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