A UN report reveals systematic torture and inhumane conditions in a Belarusian penal colony, where Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut is imprisoned.
UN Condemns Torture and Abuse
Seventeen UN experts assessed information indicating “deeply disturbing” detention practices constituting potential serious violations of international law within the Belarusian penal colony.
Prisoners reportedly face prolonged solitary confinement after suicide attempts, disciplinary sanctions, corporal punishment, and denial of medical care, with allegations of torture also surfacing.
Case of Journalist Ihar Losik
The report specifically highlighted the case of journalist and blogger Ihar Losik, held from June 2022 to September 2025 on politically motivated charges, first in Minsk arrest and then in the Nowopolotsk penal colony.
Losik was among 52 political prisoners released in September 2025 as part of a thaw in relations with the United States, but endured lengthy solitary confinement and restricted contact with family and legal counsel, including two suicide attempts.
Punishment for Suicide Attempts Deemed Concerning
Experts expressed deep concern over the practice of punishing prisoners for suicide attempts instead of providing urgent psychological and medical assistance.
In 2023, an elderly inmate with health problems died while in solitary confinement without adequate medical care.
Belarus Condemned for Passport Revocation
A separate group of UN experts “strongly condemned” the Belarusian government’s decision to invalidate the passports of individuals imprisoned for political reasons and forcibly deported after release in 2025 and 2026.
Andrzej Poczobut’s Imprisonment
Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish journalist and activist, is currently imprisoned in the Nowopolotsk colony, having been detained since 2023.
According to the “Wiasna” human rights center, there are currently 1100 political prisoners in Belarus.
Conditions of Poczobut’s Detention
Poczobut has spent most of his time in solitary confinement since 2023, with limited access to medical care and communication with the outside world, according to Bartosz T. Wieliński, deputy editor-in-chief of “Wyborcza”.
Poczobut was arrested in March 2021 and sentenced to eight years in a strict-regime penal colony in 2023, accused of inciting national hatred and propagating extremism for documenting the history of the Polish minority and performing journalistic duties.
Recent Reports on Poczobut’s Health
On April 16th, Andrzej Poczobut turned 53. A recent report from a fellow inmate indicates he is in poor health.
