Political prisoners are denied medical care in Belarusian prisons

Ryhor Kastusiou, the Belarusian National Front party chairperson currently held in the KGB pre-trial detention center, needs urgent hospital care. On Saturday, 24 July, an ambulance was called to the pre-trial detention center. Previously, Kastusiou underwent a medical examination and a therapy course in the prison hospital. It was an emergency as he suffered from shortness of breath, swelling of the limbs, heart problems, high blood pressure, and a confused state of mind. His condition was caused by unbearable heat, humidity, and poor ventilation in the pre-trial detention center.

The politician’s relatives have repeatedly asked to change the measure of restraint to house arrest with hospitalization.

Ryhor Kastusiou was detained in April 2021 for an alleged conspiracy to seize state power (Part 1 of Article 357 of the Criminal Code).

Political prisoner and Viasna human rights activist Marfa Rabkova fainted during a walk. She was hypotensive, with her blood pressure at 80/60. Marfa is now on bed rest in her cell and remains very weak.

The Viasna Human Rights Center also learned that Marfa Rabkova has needed to see a dentist for the past two months. Marfa submitted a required request, yet the Investigative Committee, the entity in charge of making a decision, denied it.

The head of the advertising and marketing department of Nasha Niva and political prisoner Andrei Skurko was taken to a medical unit with “structural changes in his lungs”. He is suspected of having COVID-19. His entire prison cell was quarantined.

According to journalist Aleh Hruzdzilovich, who was in the same cell, Andrei started coughing on 18 July, had a fever, and was given paracetamol.

Skurko suffers from insulin-dependent diabetes. He spent 13 days in the Akrestsina detention center without a mattress and bed, with lights on around the clock, without a diabetic diet or parcels from relatives. COVID-19 is especially dangerous for diabetic patients.

Meanwhile, six more people in Belarus were recognized as political prisoners. As of now, there are 586 political prisoners in Belarus.