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CASE #288
Date
13 / 03 / 2021 – 28 / 03 / 2021
City
Minsk
Perpetrators
  • Detention Centre Personnel
  • Special Purpose Police Unit OMON
Type of violation
  • Arbitrary or unlawful arrest and/or detention
  • Denial of appropriate conditions of detention
  • Deprivation of sleep
  • No consultation with legal counsel permitted
  • Torture
  • Use of excessive force
International classification of violations
  • Prohibition of torture (standalone)
  • Right to fair trial (procedural violations)
  • Right to liberty and security of person
  • Violation of rights of detained or imprisoned persons
Description

Time: daytime

Place/Location: detention - in front of Melnikayte 6; Akrestsina Detention Center (1-y zavulak Akrestsina 36). Detention: March 13, release: March 28, 2021.

Identity of the victim(s): Liza Hancharova, an artist; her father Aliaksandr Hancharou

Identity of the perpetrator(s): OMON, servicemen from Akrestsina Detention Centre

Liza Hancharova was severely apprehended by OMON on March 13, 2021 when she was going to take a photo of a small protest. She had bruises on her knees after that. At Akrestsina Detention Center, she was kept in overcrowded cells (7 people per 2 places, then 7 people per 4 places); detainees did not have mattresses and were to sleep on the floor; light was on all the time. Every two days, chlorine containing liquid was poured to the cell in the presence of the detainees without airing the cell, which led to mucous membrane inflammation.

A day before her release, Lisa was transported alone to Akrestsina Detention Center without any explanation where she spent a night in a separate cell. Lisa's father Aliaksandr Hancharou was detained at the same time. He did not take part in the protest either. Both were sentenced to 15 days of arrest. Psychological pressure was used when detainees were transported to another place: police with German shepherd dogs, the presence of a general officer, muster, shouting of surnames.

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