Ivan Shyla: Cells in Minsk’s detention centre full of lice and rats

On March 4, Ivan Shyla, the Young Front deputy head, was released from the detention centre in Akrestsin Street after 19 days in custody.

The activist, arrested just before the awards ceremony “I love Belarus”, shared his impressions about the confinement conditions, Viasna human rights centre writes.

“Some progress in detention centre’s confinement conditions can be noticed,” the Young Front activist says. “I was allowed to have a sleeping bag, I was taken out for walks, I took a shower as many as four times. It was a problem a year ago.”

The guy focused more on problems. He had an allergy during the first days in custody. His requests to call an emergency ambulance were denied. A local doctor was unable to help because he did not have necessary medicines.

“They said medicines were ordered specially for me, but they are to appear only in March. My parents managed to pass me medicines through Young Front activists. Without it, I would have been taken to hospital,” Ivan Shyla says. “My face swelled. Chaps on my face and strange spots on my hands appeared. I do not have them in normal sanitary conditions.”

Though inmates were allowed to use sleeping bags, it was very cold. Due to constant draughts, high humidity and temperature drops, the healthy 20-year guy caught bronchitis and could not recover even with the help of antibiotics.

But the strongest impression for the activist was not allergy, cold and humidity in the cell, but lice and rats.

The guy also reminded about problems with mail. He did not receive a single letter, telegram or postcard. He says he had to send letters home not thought the administration, but through his released cell-mates.