'No Female Political Prisoner Ever Been Subjected To Such Severe Trial'

What are the conditions of Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk's detention?

Political prisoner and activist of the civil campaign European Belarus, Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, who is held in colony No. 24 for repeat offenders (Zarechche, Homel region), was placed in a cell-type unit (CTU).

The husband of political prisoner, activist of European Belarus, Andrei Sharenda, told Charter97.org about the conditions in which his wife was kept:

- The colony administration sentenced Palina to six months of arrest in the solitary confinement. This is the maximum possible term for all categories of prisoners. No other female political prisoner has ever been subjected to such a harsh trial. In addition, Palina spent 80 days in the solitary confinement (punishment cell) during the previous four months of her imprisonment in the colony.

The detention conditions in the solitary confinement do not differ much from the punishment cell. The punishment cell is a solitary three-by-two meter cell located in a semi-basement room. There is no heating; the temperature can drop below zero during severe frosts. The cell has only a toilet and a washbasin with cold water. One can have only essentials. Walks in the open air are allowed for 30 minutes a day, but in practice occur no more than two to three times a week. One is handcuffed behind one''s back and taken out of the cell. All parcels and packages are prohibited during the detention in the solitary confinement cell.

Being in a cell for such a long time, especially in winter, is a tremendous ordeal for the human body. The administration is actually physically and mentally exhausting Palina's health and will. I can't call these conditions other than torture.

My wife's health and life are in real danger. In spite of everything, Palina is not going to give up. The unbearable conditions and the threat of continued imprisonment do not break Palina. She continues her fight for her honor and dignity and freedom in Belarus.