Savetski District Department of Internal Affairs, Minsk. Torture of detainees in August 2020

Savetski District Department of Internal Affairs, Minsk

Torture of Detainees in August 2020
Public Investigation

Abbreviations used in the document .................................................................................. 3
Summary and methodology ............................................................................................. 4
Chronology of torture from August 10 to 13, 2020 ......................................................... 8

August 10, 2020

00:00 - 04:00 ............................................................................................................................ 9
04:00 - 08:00 .......................................................................................................................... 10
08:00 - 12:00 .......................................................................................................................... 12
12:00 - 16:00 .......................................................................................................................... 12
16:00 - 20:00 .......................................................................................................................... 13
20:00 - 24:00 .......................................................................................................................... 13

August 11, 2020

00:00 - 04:00 .......................................................................................................................... 15
04:00 - 08:00 .......................................................................................................................... 17
08:00 - 16:00 .......................................................................................................................... 18
16:00 - 20:00 .......................................................................................................................... 19
20:00 - 24:00 .......................................................................................................................... 20

August 12, 2020

00:00 - 04:00 .......................................................................................................................... 23
04:00 - 08:00 .......................................................................................................................... 25
08:00 - 12:00 .......................................................................................................................... 26
12:00 - 16:00 .......................................................................................................................... 26
20:00 - 24:00 .......................................................................................................................... 27

August 13, 2020

00:00 - 04:00 .......................................................................................................................... 28
04:00 - 12:00 .......................................................................................................................... 30
12:00 - 16:00 .......................................................................................................................... 30
16:00 - 20:00 .......................................................................................................................... 30
20:00 - 24:00 .......................................................................................................................... 30

Consequences: injuries and harm suffered by detainees .................................................. 32
Individuals responsible for the torture of detainees at the Savetski District Department of Internal Affairs, Minsk ...................................................................................................... 36
Legal qualification of actions committed by Belarusian law enforcement officials .......... 55

Abbreviations used in the document

SIZO – Pre-trial detention center
ICU – Temporary detention facility
CIP – Center for the isolation of offenders
RUUS – District Department of Internal Affairs
RAUS – District Police Department
LPP – Labor and Treatment Rehabilitation Center
ICC – International Criminal Court
MIA – Ministry of Internal Affairs
OMON – Special Purpose Police Unit
CC – Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus
Military Unit – Military facility/unit
Autozak – Vehicle used for transporting detainees/prisoners
CAO – Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus

Summary and methodology

This document is yet another documented testimony of crimes against humanity committed by the regime following the presidential election in the Republic of Belarus in August 2020. The International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus, in carrying out its mission to identify all cases of torture and ill-treatment, is conducting a public investigation into what took place at the Savetski District Department of Internal Affairs (RUUS) in Minsk from August 9 to 13, 2020.

This investigation is the second inquiry into mass torture and ill-treatment in the district departments of internal affairs in Minsk following the 2020 presidential election. Previously, committee experts analyzed the events that took place at the Frunzenski RUUS in Minsk, where detainees were held along with those at the Center for the Isolation of Offenders on Akrestsina Lane and other police departments between August 9 and 13, 2020.

Between August 9 and 13, 2020, mass arrests took place in Minsk: security forces detained both protesters demonstrating against election fraud and random passersby. Pedestrians were forced to unlock their phones, and their personal belongings were searched. Armed officers stopped vehicles, conducted searches, and smashed car windows with batons, even when there were no signs of resistance from those inside. Subscriptions to independent media and Telegram channels, photos from protests, protest symbols, as well as possession of tourist and sports gear were used as pretexts for arrests.

The vast majority of detentions were accompanied by severe beatings, insults, and threats of violence. Electroshock devices and pepper spray were also used.

Detainees from across the city were distributed among various district police departments. The Savetski RUUS, located at 3 Yakub Kolas Lane, Minsk, became one of the primary sites where detainees were held and tortured before being transferred to detention facilities (CIP and ICU on Akrestsina, ICU in Zhodzina, LPP in Slutsk, and others).

Most of those brought to Savetski RUUS had been arrested in the city center, including in the areas of the Riga supermarket on Surganova Street, the Zhuravinka restaurant, Independence Avenue, and the streets of Nemiga, Kazlova, and others.

Between August 9 and 13, 2020, approximately 400–600 people were held at Savetski RUUS (witnesses report 90–100 detainees at a time during their stay).

Among the detainees were foreign nationals. A citizen of Israel conducted his own investigation and publicly testified about his experience at Savetski RUUS.

This document chronologically describes the events at Savetski RUUS, based on interviews with victims.

Experts from the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus have thoroughly examined 52 individual interviews (568 pages of transcripts) with people detained in Minsk and taken to Savetski RUUS. They also carefully analyzed photographic evidence, medical records, and other documents (137 pages).

Throughout their time at Savetski RUUS, detainees were subjected to severe beatings, torture, and inhumane treatment. Medical assistance was not provided to the injured, wounded, or ill. No hygiene products were issued, and access to restrooms and drinking water was restricted.

Basic sanitary and hygiene measures were not observed despite the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed a serious threat to the lives and health of detainees.

According to witnesses, the conditions were so horrific and unbearable, and the treatment of detainees so cruel and inhumane, that some compared Savetski RUUS to a Nazi concentration camp.

“From behind the fence of RUUS, one could hear screams, pleas for help, and the cries of tortured people.”

Several audio and video recordings documenting the abuse of detainees at Savetski RUUS have surfaced online.

Many victims reported an unusually agitated state among law enforcement officers, with dilated pupils. Some suspected that officers were using narcotic substances.

Detainees typically spent about 24 hours at RUUS. During this time, administrative offense reports were filed against them. However, witnesses stated that all documents were falsified.

After Savetski RUUS, detainees were transferred to CIP or ICU on Akrestsina Lane and other detention facilities.

The section “Consequences: Injuries and Harm Suffered by Detainees” describes the medical impact of detention at Savetski RUUS, based on medical records and victim testimonies.

The section “Individuals Responsible for the Torture of Detainees at Savetski RUUS, Minsk” contains an analysis of data from partner organizations and initiatives, open-source information, social media, Telegram channels, and testimonies from victims.

The section "Legal qualification of the actions of Belarusian law enforcement officers" analyzes the actions of the personnel of Savetski District Department of Internal Affairs in Minsk in accordance with national regulations and international legal standards.

To ensure the safety of our sources and victims, their personal data is not disclosed.

https://torturesbelarus2020.org/ru/belarus-prestuplen%D0%B8e-prot%D0%B8v-chelovechnost%D0%B8/
https://minsk.mvd.gov.by/ru/page/sovetskoe-ruvd – Official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Minsk, page on Savetski District Department of Internal Affairs.
The exact number of detainees is difficult to determine, as people were periodically transported to detention facilities (CIP and ICU on Akrestsina, ICU in Zhodzina, and others) while new detainees were constantly being brought in.
https://www.fruman.info/ – Personal investigation and testimony by a citizen of Israel.
Data from the databases of the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus https://torturesbelarus2020.org and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” https://spring96.org/ru.

Chronology of torture

August 10–13, 2020

The first detainees were brought to Savetski RUUS in the evening of August 9. Many of them had been severely beaten during their arrest.

Initially, detainees were guarded by RUUS officers and cadets from the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but later that night, OMON (riot police) arrived.

August 10, 2020

00:00 - 04:00

At this time, the OMON officers took over primary control at Savetski RUUS, demonstrating extreme brutality towards detainees. Meanwhile, RUUS officers were responsible for recording personal data and documenting detainees’ belongings.

Witnesses note that young internal affairs officers, likely cadets from the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy, also took part in guarding detainees.

Upon unloading from police transport vans, detainees were forced to run through a corridor of officers who beat them with batons on their arms, legs, and entire bodies. They were then lined up in the inner courtyard of the building (near the garage walls).

Detainees were forced into excruciatingly painful positions, standing with their legs spread wide apart and their arms raised above their heads, with the backs of their palms pressed against the wall. They remained in this position throughout the night and into the afternoon of the following day.

"Eventually, they brought me to Savetski RUUS. First, we had to run through the notorious corridor of officers. One by one, we were called from the inner courtyard into the RUUS building, where they recorded our valuables and filmed us from various angles. At first, if we did not spread our legs wide enough or if we moved our hands away from the fence, they would come over, hit us, and shout at us."

According to witnesses, by the middle of the night, about 100 people were already standing against the wall, including many women.

Detainees were rarely allowed to use the restroom. Water was provided sparingly, only 4 liters for 100 people, which was not enough for even a sip per person. Everyone had to drink from a single container, which, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, posed a serious threat to health and life.

"The men were beaten if they did not obey. More and more people were brought in. When we were taken for the inventory check inside the RUUS, they brought in several women... One girl was nearly strangled when they tried to remove the drawstrings from her hood. … Against the wall, there were about 80-90 of us, including about 20 women."

"At Savetski RUUS, everyone was forced into the stretching position—facing the wall with arms and legs extended. At first, they strictly monitored that we did not lower our arms or relax our legs. If anyone did, they would strike them with a baton or kick them. There were so many people that all the walls in the courtyard were lined with detainees."

Throughout the night, OMON officers engaged in rampant violence.

Detainees were severely beaten based on their appearance, social affiliation, requests for legal representation, refusal to provide information, or demands for legal compliance.

"One middle-aged man was forced to strip, and when they saw that his underwear had the American flag, they beat him severely. I had a beard, so at first, they assumed I was a priest and didn’t beat me as much. But later, they noticed that my pinky and ring fingers were painted with nail polish. Then they shouted: 'Oh, so he’s not a priest! He’s a faggot! That means we need to beat him even harder.' They then stripped me completely and started beating my legs."

"After this, they unloaded us. They twisted our arms behind our backs and lined us up against the wall, making us press against it with the backs of our palms. Many people couldn't hold the position for long, and when they tried to adjust their stance, they were struck on the back and legs with a baton. I asked why I was being detained and what I had done, and I demanded a lawyer. After that, they said, ‘Oh, you want a lawyer?’ and then beat me with a baton from head to toe. I told them again that I wouldn't say anything without a lawyer, and they got furious and did the same thing again—this time twice as long. At that point, I realized I wouldn't survive a third round, so I gave them my name, workplace, and other details. I was detained at 2 AM and remained in this position until 3 PM."

04:00 - 08:00

"... They were walking around with automatic rifles. It felt like being in a concentration camp. They were pulling back the bolts on their rifles and threatening to shoot everyone if anyone tried to run."
(Testimony of a detainee)

All detainees were placed in a stretching position against the wall without exception. Any attempt to change position resulted in severe beatings.

Throughout the night, detainees were brought in for inventory checks and personal data recording.

Restroom access was extremely limited—some witnesses report that they were not allowed to use the restroom at all.

"We were not allowed to use the restroom all night. Around 9–10 AM, when the cadets arrived, they started letting us go to the restroom and gave us some water—two or three bottles for a hundred people."

"We were met with screams. You couldn't see anything because your head was forcibly bent down, and you had to move quickly. They placed us against the wall with our arms raised. They kicked our legs to make us spread them wider. We stood against the wall, facing it, arms raised, legs relatively wide apart—in a stretching position."

"They took me into the courtyard of Savetski RUUS, where along the entire perimeter of the fence, people were standing with their arms raised against it. They took me out and put me next to them without explaining anything. I think there were around 50–60 men, and there were women as well. Around 4:30 AM, I was placed against that wall. By around 5 PM, they started transporting us to Zhodzina without explaining where we were going, why, or for what purpose."

08:00 - 12:00

"So we stood there until morning... And it was unbearable, around +30°C, and people were just starting to faint."
(Testimony of a detainee)

Detainees continued to be held outside along the wall. Some fainted due to exhaustion and heat. As medical aid, they were only given ammonia to inhale and were immediately returned to their positions against the wall. Water was provided in such limited quantities that it was barely enough for a single sip—4 liters for 100 people.

"One guy was standing near us, and he had something wrong with his ribs, possibly broken during his arrest. He began to faint... After a while, they took him away, but they didn’t help him walk—they just dragged him across the ground."

12:00 - 16:00

By 4 PM, police vans and OMON officers arrived and began beating people again.

Detainees had their hands tightly bound behind their backs with plastic zip ties, which caused numbness and discoloration within 10–15 minutes. Then, they were loaded into police transport vans.

"Sometime around 2–4 PM, a police van arrived, and they started loading us into it. They tied our hands behind our backs with zip ties so tightly that I couldn’t feel my hands for three hours after being released. My hands were completely numb for three hours. As for my thumbs, I couldn’t feel them for probably a month."

"The OMON officers came back. I assume they had gotten some sleep after the night shift, and then they started beating us again."

"A police van arrived, and the OMON officers got out. We were forced to lower our heads. The zip ties were applied so tightly that the pain was immediate, and within moments, we lost sensation in our fingers. They threw all of us onto the floor of the police van. Two young soldiers from the internal troops and an OMON officer inside were shouting. The officer was screaming something about the death penalty, calling us 'terrorists'."

"...They divided the men into different vehicles. They beat them and shoved them inside. They were brought in quickly and violently, forced to run."

16:00 - 20:00

More detainees continued to be brought to Savetski RUUS.

Upon arrival, they were forced to run through a corridor of officers who beat them with batons. They were then lined up facing the brown metal fence. Anyone who changed their posture was beaten, including blows to the head.

"There were about 50 of us standing against the wall. One officer was there specifically to hit people on the back of the head if he didn’t like how they were standing. We stood for a very long time."

"Any attempt to raise one’s head resulted in a strike from an OMON or RUUS officer who didn’t like it."

20:00 - 24:00

"You get up, and in front of you, there are about 15 people on one side, 15 on the other. And you enter this 'corridor,' where everyone is shouting, 'Go, go, kill them!' while swinging their batons, getting ready for us. As you run through, you’re struck with batons from all sides. The goal was to make us run through the corridor as fast as possible."
(Testimony of a detainee)

Detainees kept arriving at Savetski RUUS throughout the night.

Many were severely beaten upon arrival.

Everyone was lined up against the wall, where there was barbed wire at the bottom, forcing them to bend over deeply in an extremely uncomfortable position.

After just 10–15 minutes, their backs became numb, but they were forced to remain in that posture for hours.

Periodically, officers approached and beat detainees for ‘incorrect posture’.

Detainees were also forced to sign falsified reports.

"...There was barbed wire along the bottom of the fence. They told us to stand facing the fence, hands behind our backs, bent over in an 'L' shape so that our heads were lower than our backs, and to stay like that. We remained in that position until the middle of the night. Then they would walk around, saying: 'Well, revolutionaries, huh? What did you want? What were you fighting for? You’ll stand here until you fall onto the barbed wire.'"

"They brought us to Savetski RUUS. The entire time, I was in zip ties. They led us into the courtyard, and many were beaten. My hands were tied so tightly that I still have problems with my hand today. They called people in one by one and forced them to sign reports under threats. Those who refused were beaten. Those who tried to assert their rights were beaten even more brutally."

"We arrived at Savetski RUUS around 9 PM. About 70 people were standing along the fence. Some had been detained since 3 PM on August 9—more than 24 hours. We stood for a long time. They would walk around, threaten us, and beat us, sometimes just for asking questions."

"When they brought in the detainees from 'Riga' supermarket, they were treated the harshest. They were groaning in pain... They had been beaten terribly."

"While we were standing by the fence, during the night, they brought in more guys from Surganova Street, near 'Riga' supermarket. They were beaten even more severely. They were placed separately, around the corner by the fence."

"The worst part wasn’t even the beatings—it was what happened inside RUUS. Because for 17 hours, we were forced to stand in unbearably painful positions—with our heads down and our hands against the fence. If you moved your hands or straightened up, some officer—probably a superior—would come over and beat you with a baton, sometimes on the legs, sometimes on the back."

August 11, 2020

"There were so many people who weren’t just beaten but mutilated. They were dragged across the ground by their arms like dead bodies. They were covered in blood. After pulling them aside, they were doused with water and beaten again. The screams were horrifying!"
(Testimony of a detainee)

Detainees reported hearing explosions and gunfire near the 'Riga' supermarket, which was one of the protest centers on the night of August 10–11.

"They lined up 62 people along the fence: you had to press your head against the fence at stomach level, keep your hands either on your head or raised above it with palms facing outward, and your feet shoulder-width apart. I had only seen such things in crime reports about the arrests of serious criminals. And between you and the fence, barbed wire was stretched along the ground."

00:00 - 04:00

Upon arrival at Savetski RUUS, all detainees were forced to run through a corridor of officers, where they were severely beaten. Many arrived already covered in bruises and injuries from their previous arrests.

Detainees were lined up against the wall in the stretching position. If their hands went numb or they moved even slightly to relieve the pain, they were beaten with batons.

Some witnesses claim that even the head of Savetski RUUS, Siarhei Kalinnik, personally beat detainees.

At night, detainees were taken from the yard to interrogation rooms, where they were also beaten and suffocated with plastic bags to extract confessions.

"They periodically took us into the department. They turned on the camera and asked: 'You, btch, wanted to burn down OMON?' You say, 'No.' Then they turn the camera off and start beating you. Then they repeat the question, turn the camera back on, and by that point, you already know what answer to give: 'Yes, I was there, I wanted to burn it down, I wanted to...'"*

"I could hear OMON officers talking nearby, laughing, saying, ‘Some idiot got caught, we put a bag over his head.’ They found it amusing that somewhere, maybe in the next room, someone was suffocating with a plastic bag over their head."

"Around 2 AM or closer to 1 AM, they brought in people who had been detained at night, either near Riga or somewhere in the Bangalore area. They started beating them. We could hear that they were being brutally beaten in the yard."

Witnesses described unjustified cruelty and torture by OMON officers, who forced confessions from detainees through severe beatings.

"During interrogation, they beat us. They put me on the floor, pressed me down with handcuffs, and stepped on me with their foot. While I was lying on the floor, I got hit with a baton on the head. After they broke my finger, my head started swelling so much that I could see my own head in my peripheral vision. Then blood started coming out of my ear, and they said: 'That’s enough for this one, bring in the next.' After that, they took me back to the wall. My rib was broken too."

"We were detained and made to stand by the fence with our hands raised until 10 AM—an entire night. If someone’s hands went numb and they slightly lowered them or shifted their feet, they were beaten with batons. A woman fainted, so they poured water on her from a bottle and kicked her: 'Get up!' They beat everyone, and they beat them hard. I saw so much horror. At 4 AM, it was cold. A woman asked for water, so they brought a bucket of water, poured it over her, and we all stood there shivering."

"They kept beating us until we were finally taken to a cell in the RUUS. We were brought in at 1 AM and until 10 AM, we were constantly beaten. I even vomited against the wall, and they accused me of faking it."

"Somewhere after midnight, closer to 2–3 AM, we were still standing in the stretching position. If anyone lowered their hands or moved their feet, they were beaten. Some officers who wanted to show off their power would just come up and hit us, for no reason. Around 2–3 AM, OMON officers brought in more people, saying they had taken them from Surganova Street. Behind the corner, there were so many people who weren’t just beaten but mutilated. They were dragged across the ground by their arms like dead bodies. They were covered in blood. After pulling them aside, they were doused with water and beaten again. The screams were horrifying!"

"When they started bringing in more detainees at night from areas where protests had taken place, they were beaten savagely. You could hear it..."

Witnesses also reported that the head of Savetski RUUS, Siarhei Kalinnik, personally beat detainees and ordered officers to treat specific people with extreme cruelty, including denying them drinking water and restroom access.

"...Near me was Anton [name changed], who had just been beaten by the head of RUUS. Kalinnik approached and ordered all officers not to give him water or let him use the restroom. 'That’s his punishment.' We were given water only three times the entire time. A 1.5-liter bottle was passed around for a sip each, and I even skipped my turn so there would be enough for the last people."

04:00 - 08:00

By morning, exhausted and beaten detainees were collapsing to the ground from fatigue and injuries.

If they lowered their hands or adjusted their feet, they were beaten again.

Their legs had to remain in a fully stretched position, and they were denied water throughout the night.

Many lost consciousness or collapsed from exhaustion, but officers ignored them.

"I remember one guy—they ordered us all to squat at one point, but he couldn’t because he had been beaten in the groin."

08:00 - 16:00

Detainees who looked 'different' or had an unusual appearance were treated with particular aggression, subjected to more torture, verbal abuse, and threats of sexual violence.

"...I had long hair and a beard. They had taken my hair tie, so my hair was completely loose. My boots also looked a bit different, with steel toes. They said, ‘Oh, this one comes with us. All of these goats, bring them here. We’re going to deal with them now. You’ll regret being born, you bastards.’ Then they started joking: 'How many people sht themselves on the last trip?' 'Now it's your turn, you're done for.'"*

By 9 AM, detainees were being prepared for transfer from RUUS.

All of them had their hands tightly bound with plastic zip ties.

Many sustained injuries from how tightly they were restrained and from being kept in zip ties for long periods.

"They put the zip ties on again and tightened them even more. They made us kneel, heads down, and shoved about 30 of us into a transport van. They beat us with batons and walked over us. My hands were swollen, and my shoulder still doesn’t function properly. I nearly lost my arm because they kept the zip ties on for too long—they only cut them off in Zhodzina."

By noon, police vans began arriving, and detainees were loaded for transfer to other detention centers.

Even inside the vans, officers continued to beat and mock them.

"Inside the van, while we were still at RUUS, they tightened the zip ties so hard that our hands went completely numb. They made us kneel with our heads to the floor. As soon as everyone was loaded in, they started beating us with batons. An officer walked around just whipping people. They broke my leg there—hit my thigh, buttock, and shin. They also stepped on our backs. All the while, they were saying things like, 'So, you wanted change? Who else here wants change? You had no business going out. Now we’ll show you change.'"

"Through my peripheral vision, I saw a police van arrive. People dressed in black emerged, and we heard a loud statement directed at us: ‘We are here to kill you! We came specifically for you. It’s going to be a long ride, so consider yourselves lucky if you make it.’ Some commander declared that he would take all the long-haired ones and those with tattoos and ‘educate’ them."

"Inside the van, they didn't just throw us in. First, they secured our hands behind our backs with plastic zip ties. Then, while we were bent over, they threw us onto the steps and two or three of them started beating us with all their strength. I had never felt anything like it before—such brutal beatings. They struck our legs and buttocks. Some managed to lift their legs higher or rush inside, but they were still beaten. They twisted our hands behind our backs so tightly that we couldn’t lift our legs much, making it easier for them to hit us. After they loaded everyone into the van, they started their ideological ‘re-education.’ They beat us all again..."

16:00 - 20:00

The beatings at RUUS continued. New detainees were greeted with batons and kicks before being immediately forced into the stretching position against the wall. No medical aid was provided.

"They brought us to Savetski RUUS around 19:30. As soon as we were taken out of the police van in handcuffs, they immediately started beating us with batons and kicking us."

"By that point, I was already in such a state that even the officers seemed surprised—I was bleeding from everywhere, my entire body was covered in bruises, and blood was running from my head. When I asked for medical assistance, they either verbally abused me or responded with more physical violence. At the hospital, they did a head scan, sewed back my torn ear, and gave me medical records stating: moderate traumatic brain injury, a lacerated wound on the auricle, internal hematomas, and contusions."

"They lined us up against the wall. We had to stand with our arms raised. If you even slightly clenched your fingers, you were hit with a baton. You had to stand with straight arms, and if they thought your legs weren’t spread wide enough, they would hit you on the inner shin. I still had bruises two weeks later."

20:00 - 24:00

"A police lieutenant colonel was in charge of it all. I saw his rank, but not his face. He yelled: ‘I want to see your hands and legs!’ ‘Well, animals, did you get what you wanted? Animals! Where is your Svetlana now?!’ … This went on from one evening to the next, for almost 24 hours we stood against the fence."
(Testimony of a detainee)

Some detainees were forced to stand against the wall for 20–22 hours.

At night, the temperature dropped to 10°C (50°F). People were freezing, but they couldn’t move to warm up—any movement resulted in beatings by officers.

Detainees were periodically forced to sign falsified protocols. Those who refused or asked to read the document before signing were beaten immediately. They were also forced to unlock their phones, and if they refused to provide passwords, they were beaten.

"Everyone who was there signed eventually—some sooner, some later. Those who refused at first were eventually forced to sign with the help of a baton."

"I had to write ‘agree’ and my full name three times. When I asked what I was signing, they said, ‘We’ll explain it to you now.’ And they used batons to ‘explain’ it to me."

"Then they told us, one by one, to enter our phone passwords. One guy said, ‘You have no right, this is my phone.’ They started beating him brutally. In the end, he entered the password. I realized I’d better just give mine up immediately."

"Then, by last name, they called us up one by one. A detective sat there, pointed with his finger, and said, ‘Sign.’ I hadn’t seen what happened to the others before me, so I asked, ‘Can I at least read what I’m signing?’ He turned to the OMON officers and said, ‘Work on him.’ They dragged me around the corner, and several officers started beating me with batons, boots, and fists. After they beat me, they asked, ‘Will you sign now?’ Of course, I agreed—those who didn’t were lying on the ground next to me. I signed everything without even looking."

"‘Sign!’ I said, ‘What am I signing?’ They hit me. I said, ‘I won’t sign.’ Another hit. I said, ‘Let me read it.’ Another hit. I said, ‘Fine, at least tell me what it says.’—‘Participation in an unauthorized rally.’"

"They made us kneel while signing. I said I wouldn’t sign something I hadn’t read. They started beating me with batons on my back. It was already unbearable. I asked, ‘Can I at least read it?’ They started hitting my fingers. Getting hit on the phalanges is excruciating. They also kicked me and said, ‘Sign!’ There was no choice. We all signed without reading."

One detainee described how a young man with long hair was forcibly shaved by an officer, who also humiliated and threatened him with sexual violence.

"…There was a guy standing next to me by the wall. His hair was slightly longer. One of the officers started joking about him, saying he ‘looked like a woman.’ Then he added: ‘And you know how we deal with women? We’ll just take you and shove a baton up your ass. Since you’re such a man, but look like a woman, we’ll treat you like a woman.’ The next day, some colonel or lieutenant colonel came and roughly dragged him around the corner. There, he cut his hair with scissors, leaving him looking like a plucked chicken."

Detainees noted that motorcyclists and car drivers were given especially harsh beatings. Those who were found with protective gear—helmets, masks, goggles, camouflage clothing—were also targeted.

Some were beaten simply for asking to use the restroom.

"Later, they pulled me out, twisted my arms, pushed my face into the ground, and dragged me into RUUS. They forced me against the wall. Barbed wire was on the ground, and my feet got caught in it—it hurt. They bent me forward, pressed my head against the fence, and started beating my legs, lower back, and spine while yelling: ‘How much were you paid? $50, $100? We’ll find it and take it! You wanted change? Here’s your change! What’s wrong with Belarus?!’"

"There was a sticker with the white-red-white flag on my car. They asked, ‘Do you know what our flag is?’ They made me say what the state flag was, just to stop the beating. But I could barely speak, I was kneeling."

Before transferring detainees to the Center for Isolation of Offenders (CIP), officers continued to beat them mercilessly.

"Finally, the police van arrived, and that was the most terrifying moment. As we boarded, every single officer inside—by then it was already daylight, so we could see them clearly—every single one of them hit us. Some punched us in the ribs, some kicked us, some used batons. Everyone got beaten as they got in."

August 12, 2020

"Swearing, beatings, tears, and groans, screams. We just stood pressed against the wall and whispered to each other, ‘Don't listen, don’t listen…’ and just sobbed. Yes, tears, groans. Boys crying like children, that’s how it was…"
(Testimony of a detainee)

This day became an extreme ordeal for detainees. OMON officers and law enforcement from Savetski RUUS, led by their chief, inflicted brutal torture, severe beatings, and abuse.

00:00 - 04:00

Detainees were forced to stand against the wall in a stress position with their hands raised for the entire night and until noon the next day. Periodically, they were forced to do physical exercises until exhaustion—a form of torture aimed at draining their last strength.

If someone couldn’t keep up or performed the exercises incorrectly, they were beaten.

"Sit down, stand up, half-squat, hold the position. It wasn’t just once—it kept repeating… These exercises were incredibly exhausting. We were already completely drained. Then hands behind the head, squat again. If they didn’t like the way someone was doing it, they immediately struck with a baton or boot. Or hit under the ribs with an open palm or fist. I personally took several hits with a boot, a fist, and an open hand to different parts of my body."

Detainees were forced to sign falsified protocols while kneeling. Anyone who refused or asked to read what they were signing was brutally beaten.

"And just before they started calling us up to sign the protocols, in that dark corner where you couldn't see anything, the beatings doubled in intensity. They beat us first, so everyone would immediately sign the protocols without reading. They led us up one by one, forced us to kneel, and forbade us from looking up."

"At around 2 AM, they brought out a table and started bringing people up one by one to sign the protocols. When I asked to read it, they hit me in the liver. I said, ‘I won’t sign it’—they hit me again. They said it was about ‘participation in unauthorized protests.’ I said, ‘Check my geolocation!’—‘Oh, this old gray faggot thinks he's smart,’ and they hit me again…"

"Throughout the night, they periodically beat us with rubber batons, fists, and kicks. Then they moved us to another corner of the yard. One by one, we were taken to the center of the yard where there were stools. They forced each of us to kneel and sign a protocol. Reading was not allowed. If someone started to read, they began beating them."

Newly arrived detainees were beaten with batons regardless of age or gender. Elderly men and women were also beaten.

"They brought in young people and beat them. They screamed at them. A police lieutenant colonel walked around commanding everything. I can’t say for sure, but many said he was the chief of Savetski RUUS. He walked around barking orders, shouting ‘scum’ at everyone. It was impossible to recall or process it all."

"There were elderly people, one was about 75 years old. The treatment was just as inhumane. They were beaten too. Later, when one old man felt unwell, they let him sit down, and only after a couple of hours did they give him some heart medication."

"There were girls there too. They were also beaten—not as badly as us, but you could hear them crying and the blows landing. They kept asking: ‘How much were you paid?’ There were some guys—Turkmens or Uzbeks, about six of them. They were accused of raping some girl. They were beaten even more mercilessly."

04:00 - 08:00

At dawn, a new shift of officers arrived and resumed the beatings with renewed force. Those being transported were shoved into police vans like cattle while being brutally beaten.

Both men and women were threatened with sexual violence.

"Around morning, a lieutenant colonel appeared. I was standing against the wall… My ankles were completely black because they kept hitting us on the inner sides of our legs. He came up to me, playing with his baton, and said: ‘Well, old gray faggot, I’m going to rape you with this baton now.’ I believe he was the deputy chief of this RUUS. I replied, ‘Go ahead, try it.’ He was of medium height, stocky, wearing full black uniform with two stars on his epaulets. Around 8 AM, another officer arrived in a peaked cap—I assumed he was the chief of RUUS because of how the others treated him."

"We heard the police van arrive. They grabbed us by our clothes and threw us inside. Inside, we were met by two OMON officers who began beating us and cramming us into the ‘compartments’ (small holding cells). Where 4-5 people could barely fit, they stuffed 10-12 of us. We were packed on top of each other and forbidden to talk or even look up. If we did, they immediately opened the bars and beat us."

08:00 - 12:00

Torture continued in the morning. Detainees were forced to perform physically exhausting exercises, often led by RUUS leadership themselves.

"Valentin—apparently some senior officer—told us he was ‘training us up.’ He came periodically and forced us to squat and do various other exercises. You know, like military training—when they make you jump up and down in the middle of the night. He arrived around 9 AM, and we were taken away around 4 or 5 PM. We had stood all night and spent the entire day doing squats. Out of all that time, we were allowed to sit for only three 10-minute breaks on the curb, with our heads lowered and palms facing out."

12:00 - 16:00

Interrogations and forced signing of falsified protocols continued. Detainees who refused or disagreed were severely beaten.

Officers demanded phone passwords—those who refused were brutally beaten.

"The OMON officers started trying to force me to give up my phone password. At first, I refused, so they beat me immediately. Then they threw me to the ground, pinned my head to the pavement, and said I would ‘eat dirt’ if I didn’t give up the password. Then they pinned my knee to the asphalt and kept demanding the code. They told me, ‘We’re going to get it anyway, it’s just a matter of time.’ I wasn’t able to resist anymore, so I gave them the password. Then they returned me to the wall. I had to keep my hands behind my back with my palms facing outward. My hands quickly went numb. If I lowered them, an OMON officer would come up and hit me."

"They took us to sign some papers. I wanted to read them, but they immediately started beating me. I signed…"

"When we ran into the police van, that’s when they hit us the hardest… The blows came from all sides."

"At the entrance to the police van, they formed a corridor. OMON officers stood on both sides. You had to run through this corridor while they beat you with batons. They shouted insults and beat us. If someone slowed down or fell, no one helped them up. Instead, they were beaten even more while being told, ‘We’ll keep beating you harder until you get up.’"

20:00 - 24:00

In the evening, new detainees were brought in from across the city. Many were severely beaten.

On the grounds of Savetski RUUS, there was a dark, poorly lit corner where law enforcement officers took people for particularly brutal beatings. From that area, the sound of silent screams from tortured detainees could be constantly heard.

No medical assistance was provided to the detainees.

"During the night, they brought in people who had been severely beaten. One man was lying there—his buttocks were deformed from the beatings. The police just mocked him and laughed while he lay there, unable to move."

"They brought someone in and beat him in the dark corner. I had never seen such a beating in my life. I thought that if people were beaten that badly, they couldn't survive. They just lay there afterward. One person was later taken away by an ambulance."

"After they brought us to Savetski RUUS, they led us into the inner yard. On the steps, four or five officers stood in uniform, with no identifying insignia, wearing balaclavas and holding batons. The moment we stepped onto the yard, they started beating us. They kicked us down the stairs while continuing to strike us with batons. Then they picked us up by our collars and lined us up against a metal fence—‘like a star’—legs spread wide, arms stretched out, and left us standing like that for some time.
We asked for medical help. One guy, I think he had no shoes on, and his foot was completely swollen and blue. I’m not a doctor, but he probably had a fracture because he couldn't even stand. The next day, when they took us to Akrestsina, they had to carry him in their arms."

Inside the police van, they demanded phone passwords. Those who refused were severely beaten.

One detainee described severe beatings and threats of sexual violence against him.

"I was in the police van for about 30 minutes. Then they started demanding our phones. They took mine and told me to unlock it. I refused. They kept beating me, mainly on my buttocks, legs, and thighs. They hit and hit…
Then they went to get water from RUUS. They poured water over me and said, ‘So the baton lands better,’ and continued beating me while I was wet. At some point, they got bored, pulled out a baton, and said, ‘You faggot.’ They started saying all kinds of vile things. They cut my pants open, pressed the baton between my buttocks, and at that moment, I gave them the password…"

August 13, 2020

"We weren’t allowed to turn away from the wall, but we could hear them beating people and throwing them out of the buses. If someone fell, they rolled them across the ground with their boots and beat them. By morning, there were already around 50–60 detainees. And everyone was standing against the wall."
(Testimony of a detainee)

00:00 - 04:00

Throughout the night, detainees were forced to kneel on the ground, heads down, with their hands zip-tied behind their backs. They were constantly beaten.

Witnesses say that any reason—standing incorrectly, speaking Belarusian, having long hair, or having tattoos—could result in even more brutal beatings and insults.

Some detainees were taken to the assembly hall inside the police department, where they were also beaten.

Periodically, detainees were taken inside to sign protocols. Reading the documents or asking questions was forbidden. Anyone who refused was beaten severely.

"They brought me in to sign a protocol. The officer sat behind a desk with papers and immediately hit me in the face. I asked which article I was being charged under, and he hit me in the face again.
Then I started trying to sign, looking for where I could put a cross. I placed a cross, and I got hit in the face again while being told, ‘That’s not a signature.’
After that, they took me back to the same place where I had been lying before. I stayed there in the same position for about 30 minutes. Then they picked me up and took me inside the building, into the assembly hall. I lay there while others stood. Some were being beaten. They called some people ‘Molotov cocktail throwers’ and called me a ‘coordinator.’
Then some men in military uniforms arrived—possibly guards, they came in police vans. They called us ‘meat’ and beat us on the legs again."

"They brought the protocols and started calling names around 3 or 4 AM. Anyone who refused to sign was beaten. I was forced to sign as well because I was already badly beaten. Under the threat of another beating, I signed."

"I was interrogated. Some officers questioned me while others beat me.
And they fixated on the fact that I was speaking Belarusian. The one writing the protocol said, ‘Listen, my head is already hurting from your Belarusian. Just speak Russian.’ I said, ‘I'll try.’
And then the beatings started again… You know the saying about how Israeli soldiers do whatever they’re told? That’s how it felt. You give up whatever you can just to stay alive.
I’ve always spoken Belarusian in my life. I can speak Russian, but I have to switch my thinking, and I make mistakes and have an accent. And they started mocking my accent, beating me, and yelling, ‘Speak Russian, you bastard,’ with swearing."

04:00 - 12:00

Law enforcement officers beat people for attempting to ask about their legal status or for trying to assert their rights in any way.

Some detainees were marked with paint at the officers’ discretion, and these individuals were beaten even more severely.

"They were filling out the protocol. I started asserting my legal rights: ‘Explain to me under which article I am being detained, on what grounds I am being held.’ No one answered me. Instead, four OMON officers just beat me up, kicked my sneakers off my feet, and I had to stand barefoot the entire night."

"Around 11:30 AM, several police vans arrived, along with a bus and a MAZ truck. They immediately conducted a roll call by last name, and some people were marked with paint."

12:00 - 16:00

Detainees were crammed into overcrowded police vans. The beatings and insults did not stop.

"After lunch, the officers arrived, shoved us into a police van—into a tiny 3x3 meter cell, with no light except for a small bulb.
As we were being loaded in, one officer led the way, while another hit us on the legs.
They called people ‘meat’—‘Move, meat! Meat, hurry up!’"

16:00 - 20:00

OMON officers were extremely aggressive. They beat detainees for any request or conversation.

OMON officers also forced young soldiers to participate in the beatings.

"We asked for water or to go to the restroom. For any word, they beat us immediately. The treatment was extremely brutal. This was especially characteristic of the OMON officers.
Even if they weren’t beating us themselves, they forced the young soldiers to do it.
They told them: ‘You're not being harsh enough with them. They don’t fear you enough.’
So then, the soldiers also started using force."

20:00 - 24:00

Detainees were continuously brought in throughout the evening.

As before, they were kept outside in the courtyard, lined up against the wall.
Any small movement resulted in a beating.

Anyone who refused to sign a fabricated protocol was also beaten.

"At RUUS, we stood all night with our hands and faces against the wall in the courtyard. For the slightest movement, we were beaten.
More people kept arriving. The treatment was incredibly rough. Nothing was explained to us. By morning, they brought out a protocol. It was still dark, so it was hard to even read what was written on it. I only managed to see ‘Article 339 of the Criminal Code’ and some explanation of it.
But they didn’t let us read. They twisted my left arm behind my back, put a pen in my right hand, and said: ‘Sign it.’ At first, I agreed, but then I saw that they were accusing me of something serious, so I tore the protocol apart.
For that, they beat me again. I had to stand by the wall again for a long time.
Later, they brought me another protocol."

Consequences: injuries and trauma in detainees

It is difficult to determine exactly where and when the victims sustained their injuries between August 9 and 13, as they were subjected to beatings and psychological pressure at all stages: from the moment of arrest to their eventual release. Injuries sustained during detention and transportation were often exacerbated at district police departments (RUVD) due to mistreatment and the lack of timely medical assistance, which many detainees were afraid to request. The security forces themselves provided medical help only in the most critical cases.

"I told him I was bleeding from my mouth. He took a flashlight, looked at me and at the ground—it was covered in blood. They took me to the medics, and an ambulance took me away. At the hospital, they did a head scan, and they also had to stitch my torn ear back. The diagnosis included a moderate traumatic brain injury, a torn wound of the auricle, internal hematomas, and contusions."

Several testimonies suggest the severity of injuries sustained by detainees in police departments. The reviewed materials included seven interviews with individuals who reported that the primary violence they endured took place specifically at the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD). The most common injuries were bruises, hematomas, and contusions on the back, thighs, buttocks, and legs. More severe injuries included traumatic brain injuries and fractures of varying degrees of severity.

"I was hit in the temple area, around this eye. I also had a black eye on the right side. My ear was swollen, so the blows were aimed at this region—just above the jaw and below the temple."

"Closed traumatic brain injury, concussion, a closed fracture of the distal phalanx of the first finger on the right hand with satisfactory bone alignment, a subungual hematoma on the first finger of the right hand, subcutaneous hematomas on the shins, thighs, buttocks, and chest area on both sides. Also, a rib fracture—a closed fracture of the posterior segment of the eighth rib on the left. And multiple hematomas. This is what the hospital documented."

One detainee was sprayed in the face with tear gas while being forced to sign a protocol.

"An OMON officer sprayed gas in my face, hitting my left eye. By now [at the time of the interview in late August 2020], it has improved, but before, it was constantly tearing up."

According to numerous testimonies, the most common injuries during those days were hematomas, bruises, and contusions on the back and lower body. Many detainees retained marks in the shape of batons, boots, plastic zip ties, and officers’ hands.

"My shins were completely black from baton strikes on both legs. The front of my thighs was bruised from beatings. My back was also covered in bruises. On my buttocks, I had deep internal contusions."

"Multiple bruises and hematomas. They deliberately injured tendons to make the damage harder to detect. The hospital was full of people with injuries. Aside from my shoulder, everything was documented."

In addition to these injuries, some victims suffered more severe damage—fractures, cracks, traumatic brain injuries, and injuries to the face, ears, and other areas.

"They started kicking my legs with their boots, one after another, and that’s how they broke my right ankle."

"I had a coccyx fracture, a contusion on my left thigh, numbness in my fingers, and a concussion."

Some detainees reported injuries caused by restraint devices. Many had their hands tightly bound with plastic construction zip ties, often so tightly that they suffered trauma ranging from bruises and cuts on their wrists to loss of sensation.

"I sought medical help at a clinic. They prescribed me a whole stack of medications to restore sensation in my hand. I am still undergoing rehabilitation [as of the interview in late August 2020] because I haven’t regained full sensation yet."

"The scars from the zip ties are still visible [on my wrists]. The bone here was slightly damaged, and the traumatology department confirmed that the left wrist bone had been compressed."

Some victims stated that the violence they endured worsened pre-existing injuries.

"I’m currently treating my shoulder. About three or four years ago, I injured it while ice skating—I jerked my arm, which caused ligament strain. After being released, my shoulder suddenly started hurting badly. I couldn’t sleep or lie down properly. I had a fever of nearly 39°C (102°F) for four days. An MRI showed a ligament and tendon rupture and a suspected fracture of a cartilage bone."

Many victims reported severe psychological distress. The first days after release were particularly difficult for most interviewees.

"Honestly, if it had been pure shock, my first reaction would have been tears. But while I was inside, I didn’t cry. When I stepped outside the gate and saw all those people waiting, offering food, I completely broke down. For a whole day afterward, any act of kindness—any words of sympathy—would bring tears to my eyes. I could barely hold them back. They beat you—no tears. But after just one day, a simple offer to drive me somewhere made me cry."

Victims reported experiencing intense, uncontrollable fear even after returning home. Some were afraid to leave their apartments, fearing they could be randomly detained again. Others developed an aversion to buses and vans similar to those used for detentions.

"The fear was overwhelming. The next day, I was trembling. I was alone in my apartment, and I was genuinely terrified. I was scared to go outside. I forced myself to step out, buy something, call someone. But I kept thinking—can I safely do anything now? Can I walk outside? Can I go somewhere?"

"I was very afraid of those blue vans. Any van, really—especially the tinted ones."

Most victims reported sleep disturbances, including nightmares and insomnia.

"For about two weeks, I suffered from insomnia and complete loss of appetite. I struggled to fall asleep and kept waking up. I couldn’t eat at all. Now [as of the interview in May 2021], my digestion, eating habits, and appetite have returned to normal."

Officials responsible for the torture of detainees at the Sovietsky District Police Department of Minsk

Along with the identified security officers, we consider it necessary to name the senior officials responsible for violations of the law at the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD) of Minsk and the impunity of the perpetrators.

Alexander Lukashenko – the individual holding the position of President of the Republic of Belarus.
Yury Karaev – former Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (June 11, 2019 – October 29, 2020).
Alexander Barsukov – former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (2017 – 2020).
Ivan Kubrakov – former Head of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee (since October 29, 2020, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus).
Dmitry Balaba – Commander of the Minsk OMON (Special Police Unit).
Alexander Konyuk – former Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus (2011 – 2020).
Andrei Shved – Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus.
Ivan Naskevich – former Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus (November 10, 2015 – March 11, 2021).
Dmitry Gora – Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus (since March 11, 2021).
Oleg Lavrukhin – Prosecutor of Minsk.
Anton Zagarovsky – Prosecutor of the Sovietsky District of Minsk.

According to testimonies of victims, in addition to Sovietsky RUVD officers, soldiers of military unit 3214, OMON, and cadets of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus were also stationed on the premises of the Sovietsky RUVD during those days. All of them, along with their direct commanders, bear responsibility for the mass torture and cruel treatment of detainees.

Testimonies collected by the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus make it possible to identify a number of officials and their involvement in the torture of detainees at the Sovietsky RUVD in Minsk from August 9 to 13, 2020.

Identification of security officers also took place through social media, where individuals were recognized after photos were published online.

Kalinnik Sergey

Identified by many interviewed victims.

As the head of the facility, he is responsible for organizing the mass torture of detainees on the premises of the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD).

Personally participated in and supervised acts of torture.

Led detentions in the city on August 11–12, 2020.

On August 12, during the Women’s March of Solidarity, he was seen carrying an automatic weapon in the center of Minsk.

“Before that, I saw how they brought in a young man. He was met by someone (later I recognized him) — it was Sergey Kalinnik, the head of the RUVD… He started beating him. The detainee, R., said something in response, which made him furious. Kalinnik then dragged him around the corner. When R. returned from there, he was severely beaten.”

“When he approached me, I once again said that I was an Israeli citizen and asked them to inform the embassy about my arrest. In response, I received a baton strike to the stomach. It was Sergey Kalinnik.”

“He beat a young man standing next to another detainee—dragged him aside and hit him with a baton. Later, under his orders, this young man was denied water and access to the restroom.”

“He walked around threatening everyone with the use of firearms if we decided to resist or even dared to look them in the face to remember them.”

“He constantly used obscene language, saying: ‘Who’s paying you?’ and ‘Now we’ll show you the 1994 Constitution.’”

Kesel Timur

Identified by many interviewed victims.

As one of the senior officials, he is responsible for the mass torture of detainees on the premises of the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD). He directly oversaw and participated in acts of torture.

“I can specifically recognize the person who beat people most brutally in the street, who approached us near the fence. He walked around and hit people… That was Timur Kesel, one of the deputy heads.”

“There was one officer wearing a white ceremonial shirt with an elastic band at the bottom, like those worn by police officers, with short sleeves. He was the one giving orders about what to do with the detainees. He was the one commanding the acts of torture. I saw the moment when he approached a young man with a broken arm and told him to raise his hands. The man replied that his arm was broken and he couldn’t lift it. Kesel grabbed his broken arm at the fracture site and violently slammed it against the fence. The young man was in excruciating pain, moaning and screaming. Later, after I was released, I visited the RUVD website and identified him. It was Timur Kesel, the deputy head of the RUVD.
Additionally, after my release, I found a significant number of people who had been with me—on the bus, in the police van, and at the RUVD. I asked them to identify him if they had seen him and knew who he was. The majority confirmed that it was him.”

“Kesel would walk around the RUVD courtyard from time to time, insulting and threatening everyone. He would poke some people with a baton and beat them.”

Kachuk Ihar

Position: Senior District Police Inspector, Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD), Minsk
Involvement in torture:

Participated in the crackdown on peaceful citizens at Komarovka. Was also seen attending court hearings at the Sovietsky District Court of Minsk under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Belarus, acting as a prosecution witness.

On August 9, 2020, at the Okrestina Detention Center (ICU), he used violence against detainees, insulted and beat people, and gave orders to riot police (OMON) to "take care of" the most vocal and defiant detainees.

Shymanski Valiantsin

Position: Officer, Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD), Minsk
Involvement in torture:

Identified by numerous detainees as one of the most brutal officers. Directly participated in torture.

Testimonies:

"Forced everyone to squat, then beat them on the legs. Even beat pensioners. Took young men to the toilet, didn’t let them put their underwear back on before leading them back."

"Then there was this guy, they called him Valyantsin. Probably the most rotten person I’ve ever seen. He’s a monster. He enjoys all of this. He yelled at a woman, saying, ‘Why do you walk these streets? You should stay home and cook porridge. I’ll show you democracy!’ He even said, ‘I’ll tie your clitorises in a knot.’"

"Valyantsin—presumably a superior officer—was in charge of ‘breaking’ us. His shift had ended in the morning, but he returned. Apart from standing all night, we had to squat repeatedly, perform exercises like military-style drills. He came around 9 AM, and we weren’t taken away until 4 or 5 PM. We stood all night and squatted all day. Out of that entire time, we sat down only three times for 10 minutes, heads lowered and palms turned outward on the curb."

Safonava Maryna

Position: Inspector of the Criminal Executive Inspection, Public Security Police
Rank: Major of Police

Involvement in torture:

On the night of August 10-11, participated in searches of detainees, threatening them and failing to inform them of their rights.

Threatened detainees with a baton in the inner courtyard of the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD), Minsk. Did nothing to stop the torture inflicted by other security forces.

Matskevich Pavel

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD), Minsk

Involvement in torture:

Directly participated in the torture of detainees.

Appears in administrative offense protocols as a police witness.

Identified by victims as one of the individuals involved in beatings in the police courtyard, possibly giving orders to others.

One victim recalls: "He resembled one of the people who beat me in the courtyard and likely commanded others. I remember that this person had a hoarse voice."

Bely Dzmitry

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD), Minsk

Involvement in torture:

Was present at the RUVD, guarding detainees. Constantly threatened detainees with torture and directly participated in abuse. Severely tightened plastic handcuffs, causing intense pain.

Witness testimony:

“They stood in the courtyard watching over the detainees. They behaved arrogantly and aggressively, periodically threatening to use force. They escorted detainees inside the building for interrogations. While escorting, they forced detainees to lower their heads extremely low and tightened plastic handcuffs excessively.”

Boyka Anatol

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD), Minsk

Involvement in Torture:

Was present at the RUVD, guarding detainees. Threatened detainees with torture and actively participated in abuse. Tightly fastened plastic handcuffs, causing severe pain.

Witness testimony:

Bushmak Ihar

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD), Minsk

Involvement in Torture:

Was present at the RUVD, guarding detainees. Threatened detainees with torture and actively participated in abuse. Tightly fastened plastic handcuffs, causing severe pain.

Witness testimony:

Varankou Maksim

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky District Police Department (RUVD), Minsk

Involvement in torture: Present at the RUVD, guarding detainees. Threatened detainees with torture and actively participated in abuse. Tightly fastened plastic handcuffs, causing severe pain.

Witness testimony:

Dmitry Dorashevich

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in torture:

Present at the RUVD, guarding detainees. Took no action to stop torture by other officers.

Uladzimir Kazak

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in torture:

Present at the RUVD, falsified protocols for detainees. Took no action to stop torture by other officers.

Siarhei Karpovich

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in torture:

Present at the RUVD, interrogated detainees. Took no action to stop torture by other officers.

Volha Karastseleva

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk
Involvement in Torture:

Participated in searches of detainees, issuing threats without explaining rights. Took no action to stop torture by other officers.

Sviatlana Nikitina

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in torture:

Handled the inventory of detainees' belongings in the RUVD courtyard. Failed to inform the embassy about the detention of a foreign citizen. Took no action to stop torture by other officers. Denied a detainee with a medical condition access to a face mask, endangering his health.

Pavel Ramanau

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in torture:

Falsified protocols for detainees. Took no action to stop torture by other officers.

Dzianis Varanishcha

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in Torture:

Falsified protocols for detainees. Took no action to stop torture by other officers.

Vasil Mauchanka

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in Torture:

Detained people near Komarovsky Market and loaded them into vans.

Denis Alekseev

Position: Officer of the Frunzensky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in Torture:

Mentioned in victims' procedural documents as a security officer and witness.

Siarhei Bichykau

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in Torture:

Mentioned in victims' procedural documents as a security officer and witness.

Siarhei Kasabutski

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in Torture:

Mentioned in victims' procedural documents as a security officer and witness.

Mikalai Lukianchuk

Position: Officer of the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk

Involvement in Torture:

Mentioned in victims' procedural documents as a security officer and witness.

The identification of individuals involved in torture at the Sovietsky RUVD, Minsk, is ongoing. If you recognize any of the officers from published photographs, please contact the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus:

Website: https://torturesbelarus2020.org/ru/
Email: contact@torturesbelarus2020.org
Telegram: @ICTB2020_contact

We guarantee maximum security and confidentiality in communication.

Legal qualification of the actions of Belarusian law enforcement officers

The numerous testimonies presented in the document indicate that between August 9 and 13, 2020, law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs carried out large-scale acts of violence (torture), abuse, and cruelty against peaceful citizens detained on the premises of the Sovetsky District Police Department in Minsk.

People who were apprehended on the streets of Minsk and brought to the police department were subjected to organized beatings by being forced to run through a line of officers with batons (the so-called "corridors"). Then, in the courtyard of the police department, detainees were lined up along the wall and fence and forced to stand in a static position with their hands raised for long hours under threat or direct use of violence, experiencing immense suffering and pain. Any slightest disobedience, timid protest, or mere demand for adherence to the law resulted in beatings, insults, and threats of rape.

Female detainees were subjected to physical and psychological violence, as well as cynical insults. Like men, they were forced to stand against the wall with their hands raised for a day or more. Detainees were denied food, restricted in water access, and deprived of the ability to use the restroom. Any demands for their rights to be upheld were suppressed with force (beatings). Medical assistance was often not provided, and necessary medications were withheld.

Under these circumstances, the actions of the officers of the riot police (AMAP), the police officers of the Sovetsky District Police Department, the military personnel of the internal troops (military unit 3214), and other law enforcement structures on the premises of the Sovetsky District Police Department against detainees are criminal under both domestic and international law.

These actions fully fall under the definition of a crime under Article 128 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (crimes against humanity), which states that unlawful imprisonment, torture, or acts of cruelty committed in connection with the political beliefs of the civilian population are punishable by imprisonment for a term of seven to twenty-five years, life imprisonment, or the death penalty.

From the perspective of international criminal law, the described acts of violence are classified under subparagraphs e), f), and k) of paragraph 1 of Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as crimes against humanity in the form of imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental norms of international law, as well as in the form of torture and other inhumane acts of a similar nature, which involve the intentional infliction of severe suffering, serious bodily harm, or significant damage to mental or physical health.

It is important to note that since the crime stipulated in Article 128 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus falls under the most serious crimes against peace and security of humanity, Article 85 of the Criminal Code establishes that individuals guilty of committing this crime are not subject to exemption from criminal liability or punishment due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

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