UN Experts Sound Alarm Over Alleged Torture, Incommunicado Detention and Deaths in Belarus Prison

United Nations human rights experts have issued a stark warning over alleged serious abuses inside a correctional facility in Belarus, raising concerns that detention practices may amount to torture, enforced disappearance, and other grave violations of international law.

The experts highlighted deeply troubling reports from Navapolatsk Correctional Colony, where detainees are allegedly subjected to prolonged incommunicado detention, harsh disciplinary measures, and systemic denial of medical care. According to the allegations, inmates face punitive isolation, physical punishment following suicide attempts, and reprisals for attempting to lodge complaints—particularly after confidential interactions with prison psychologists.

"These are extremely serious allegations that, if confirmed, point to practices incompatible with fundamental human rights obligations," the experts said, emphasizing that both torture and enforced disappearance are strictly prohibited under international law.

A central case cited by the experts is that of journalist and blogger Ihar Losik, who was detained from June 2022 until September 2025 on what have been described as politically motivated charges. During his detention, Losik was reportedly held in multiple facilities, including a KGB detention centre in Minsk and the Navapolatsk Correctional Colony.

Reports indicate that Losik endured prolonged isolation under harsh conditions, with restricted access to family, legal representation, and correspondence. Communications intended for international human rights bodies were allegedly intercepted, while his legal counsel faced intimidation, disbarment, or detention—raising further concerns about due process and access to justice.

The experts expressed particular alarm over reports that Losik attempted suicide twice while in custody. In one instance in March 2023, after being informed he would be returned to isolation, he reportedly inflicted serious harm on himself but was denied hospital treatment and instead placed in disciplinary confinement.

"Punishing detainees for suicide attempts rather than providing urgent psychological and medical support is deeply troubling and violates basic human rights standards," the experts stated, citing obligations related to the rights to life, health, and freedom from torture.

Further compounding concerns, Losik was reportedly designated as being involved in terrorism and extremism without a corresponding conviction. The experts warned that such classifications—applied without transparency or legal recourse—can lead to discriminatory treatment and denial of fundamental rights.

Beyond individual cases, the experts also raised concerns over the reported death of an older detainee in 2023, who allegedly died in custody after being held in punitive isolation without adequate medical care. The lack of clarity around whether the death was independently investigated has heightened fears of systemic neglect and impunity.

"Deaths in custody under such conditions raise the most serious concerns under international law," the experts said, pointing to potential violations of the rights to life, liberty, health, and protection from torture and enforced disappearance.

The UN experts have formally contacted the Belarusian government regarding these allegations on 16 March 2026, urging authorities to take immediate corrective action. They called for humane detention conditions, access to independent medical and psychological care, and transparent, credible investigations into all reported cases of injury and death in custody.

They further stressed the need for safeguards to prevent reprisals against detainees who raise complaints, warning that fear of punishment can silence victims and perpetuate abuse within the prison system.

The statement adds to mounting international scrutiny of Belarus's detention practices, particularly in cases involving political prisoners, journalists, and activists. Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about conditions in Belarusian prisons, including the use of isolation, restricted communication, and inadequate healthcare.

As calls for accountability grow louder, the situation at Navapolatsk Correctional Colony is likely to intensify pressure on Belarus to align its detention practices with international human rights standards and ensure the protection of those in custody.