Евгений Скочко. Фото: "Радыё Свабода"
Former Malady Front activist Yauhen Skachko, sentenced to three years in prison, is to be transferred from the Homiel pre-trial detention center to a penal colony, although the destination remains unknown. Details about the political prisoner’s detention conditions and health condition were reported by Radio Svaboda, citing an informed source.
It was previously reported that Skachko was charged with “facilitating extremist activity,” “defamation,” “insulting Lukashenka,” and “discrediting the Republic of Belarus.”
According to details known to the outlet, in a social media comment he used the word “kolkhozan” and questioned whether Belarus could be considered a state governed by the rule of law.
According to the source, Skachko ’s cell was changed three times during his six months in detention. He is currently being held in a small cell housing 10 people.
“He said his place is on the upper bunk and that everyone on the upper level has yellow tags, meaning political prisoners. In general, he did not complain about the conditions, and his attitude remains normal. He only complains about prison food because he is allergic to some dishes,” the source said.
Belarus’ Supreme Court upheld Yauhen Skachko’s sentence in April. This means the political prisoner will soon be transferred from the Homiel detention center to a penal colony, although the destination has not yet been disclosed.
The source said the main concern is Skachko’s health condition. He suffers from high blood pressure, instability of the cervical vertebrae — requiring him to wear a special neck brace — and deteriorating eyesight.
“He has high blood pressure, and special medication prescribed to him is being delivered, and he definitely receives it. He also has instability of the cervical vertebrae, which requires specific medical measures — he needs to wear a special neck brace. All of this is being done in the detention center, but how it will be in the colony is unknown. His eyesight has also worsened. He reads a lot, while the lighting there is insufficient. He understands all this, but at the same time asked people not to worry too much about him, saying that he will endure everything and is prepared for anything,” the source said.
Yauhen Skachko served as deputy chairman of Malady Front in the late 1990s. He later moved to Homiel, went into business, and stepped away from politics. Before his arrest, he lived with his family and has three children. He will turn 50 in October. After the trial in February, human rights defenders recognized him as a political prisoner.
As of today, there are at least 840 political prisoners in Belarus according to the human rights community, and 917 according to Dissidentby.com.