Harry Pahanyaila: Conditions in prison are much stricter

“There have not been cases of transferring an inmate from a penal colony to a prison. The case of Mikalai Statkevich is the first one.”

Human rights activist Harry Pahanyaila gave his comment on transferring former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich from a penal colony in Shklou to prison No. 4 in Mahillou.

“Medium and maximum security penal colonies differ from a prison only by confinement conditions. A prison supposes limited number of meetings, restrictions in correspondence. An inmate has the right to spend one basic unit of money per month, he cannot receive parcels. Calls to relatives are allowed only in exceptional cases. Confinement conditions are tougher than in ordinary penitentiaries. As a rule, prisons are for persons, who repeatedly violated prison rules and regulations, or for dangerous special criminals for the first five years of imprisonment,” Radio Svaboda quotes Harry Pahanyaila.

Harry Pahanyaila says the prison has cells for two, three or four inmates, but there are not strict rules. “They may hold a prisoner in solitary confinement. It depends on availability of cells and the prison authorities. Confinement conditions are tougher, daily routine is strictly regulated there. Any disobedience is punished. To be short, conditions there are definitely worse,” the human rights activist summed up.