UN experts warn of 'deeply alarming detention practices' in Belarus' prison system

Published on 20/04/2026 - 14:35 GMT+2

United Nations experts expressed interest connected Monday implicit allegations of prolonged incommunicado detention and dire custody conditions successful Belarus that whitethorn magnitude to torture.

The radical of 17 autarkic experts said they had received accusation pointing to "deeply alarming detention practices that whitethorn magnitude to sedate violations of planetary law" astatine the Novopolotsk correctional colony successful bluish Belarus.

"We are gravely acrophobic that detainees successful Novopolotsk Colony whitethorn beryllium subjected to prolonged solitary confinement, disciplinary sanctions and carnal punishments aft termination attempts," they said successful a statement.

Mandated by the UN Human Rights Council but not speaking connected behalf of the United Nations, they besides highlighted "denial of indispensable aesculapian attraction and reprisals for attempting to rise complaints, particularly aft confidential meetings with the Colony's psychologist."

"If confirmed, specified practices whitethorn magnitude to torture and ill-treatment, and, nether definite circumstances, whitethorn entail the committee of enforced disappearance," they said.

The experts cited the lawsuit of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty writer Ihar Losik, who was arbitrarily detained connected politically motivated charges and held astatine respective facilities successful Belarus, including Novopolotsk.

His situation condemnation began successful June 2022, aft his apprehension successful 2020, and helium was released and expelled from the state successful September 2025, according to the statement.

Losik, who was among 52 governmental prisoners released past September, reportedly endured prolonged isolation successful harsh conditions, and attempted termination doubly portion successful custody.

After 1 reported effort successful which helium earnestly injured himself, helium was allegedly denied hospitalisation and enactment into "disciplinary isolation."

"Punishing detainees for termination attempts alternatively than ensuring urgent intelligence and aesculapian attraction is profoundly disturbing and incompatible with basal quality rights standards," the experts said.

They besides raised interest implicit the reported 2023 decease successful custody of an older detainee with wellness conditions, who they said was held successful isolation without capable care.

"Deaths successful custody amid allegations of isolation, denial of attraction and concealment of accusation from families, rise the astir superior concerns nether planetary law," they said.

In a abstracted statement, a squad of UN investigators slammed the Belarusian government's determination since past twelvemonth to invalidate the passports of governmental prisoners who were forcibly expelled from the state pursuing their release.

The UN Group of Independent Experts connected the Situation of Human Rights successful Belarus said it interviewed a ample fig of erstwhile detainees who had been near without valid question documents arsenic a result.

The measure, it said, was "contrary to planetary instrumentality and without ineligible crushed oregon justification."

The radical called connected Belarusian authorities to instantly remedy the situation.

There are much than 1,100 governmental prisoners successful Belarusian jails, galore arrested aft a disputed 2020 predetermination that triggered wide protests, according to the Viasna quality rights centre.