“Torture chamber” is still used in Valadarski Street prison

Human rights activists have already informed about the cell #69 in the pre-trial detention centre #1 in Valadarski Street in Minsk.

Inmates who disagree to cooperate on investigations in politically motivated cases are deliberately kept in the appalling conditions there.

The first published facts triggered some reaction from the administration of the pre-trial detention centre, but it changed the situation for the worse. No comprehensive measures have been taken to improve the situation.

According to “Vyasna” human rights centre, as before, the cell #69 is overcrowded, and more people are still sent there. They are people who in some way refuse to cooperate with investigators (and they have an absolute right for that, but this irritates investigation agencies). The conditions for sleeping in the cell have become even harsher: there are no sleeping accommodations for some of them at all, and they can only ask their fellow inmates for a place at their plank beds.

Besides, reports have appeared that new forms of pressure have been started to be used in the ill-famed cell. Usual cellmates, as a rule accused of grave criminal offences, are put against “political” ones. They bully the political prisoners and create an unbearable psychological climate. Chances are high that their health is endangered as well, which certainly alarms human rights activists.

The defendants in the “mass riots” criminal case and their lawyers will try to address state agencies, which are responsible for incarceration conditions supervision. However they do not have very much hope for changes for the better.