{"id":184368,"date":"2026-04-21T11:53:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T08:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184368\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T11:53:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T08:53:36","slug":"un-experts-sound-alarms-over-detention-conditions-at-navapolack-penal-colony","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184368\/","title":{"rendered":"UN experts sound alarms over detention conditions at Navapo\u0142ack penal colony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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April 21, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> A group of UN experts expressed grave concern over reports of prolonged incommunicado detention and conditions at the penal colony in Navapo\u0142ack, Viciebsk region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInformation we have received indicates deeply alarming detention practices that may amount to grave violations of international law,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inmates may be subjected to prolonged solitary confinement, punishments including physical ones, after suicide attempts, denial of essential medical care and reprisals for attempting to complain, especially after appointments with the prison\u2019s psychologist, the experts noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such practices, if confirmed, could amount to torture and ill-treatment or enforced disappearance, which are prohibited under international law, they added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UN experts cited the example of former prisoner Ihar \u0141osik, who had been held in the Navapo\u0142ack colony and reportedly had been subject to prolonged isolation in harsh conditions. The journalist was denied contact with his family, while his lawyers faced disbarment or detention. \u0141osik reportedly attempted suicide twice while in prison and had been placed in isolation after seriously injuring himself in March 2023, instead of being hospitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPunishing detainees for suicide attempts rather than ensuring urgent psychological and medical care is profoundly disturbing and incompatible with basic human rights standards, including the rights to life, health and freedom from torture and ill-treatment,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141osik\u2019s designation as an \u201cextremist\u201d and \u201cterrorist\u201d in Belarus amount to \u201cdiscriminatory treatment and denial of basic rights,\u201d the experts said, calling on Minsk to stop using anti-extremist and anti-terrorist legislation to punish political opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement urged the Belarusian authorities \u201cto ensure humane detention conditions, guarantee access to independent medical and psychological care and conduct credible investigations into all reported deaths and serious injuries in custody.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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