Psychological torture or ill-treatment was experienced by 98.6% of former Belarusian political prisoners who participated in a study after emigrating following their release. Physical torture or ill-treatment was reported by 88.3%. The study was published in the scientific journal Torture.
Psychiatrist Uladzimir Pikirenia, Dissidentby founder Maryna Kasinerava, psychologist Yulia Lahvinenka and University of Zurich professor Andreas Maercker surveyed 77 former political prisoners and conducted six additional interviews. The data were collected between February and May 2025. The median duration of imprisonment among participants was 30 months.
Violence during arrest was reported by 85.7% of respondents. While in detention, participants described forced nudity, stress positions, beatings, electric shocks and dangerous forced labor.
Among forms of psychological abuse, the most frequently reported were constant lighting in cells — 79.7%, extreme detention conditions — 66.2%, denial of medical care — 64.9%, and sleep deprivation — 59.5%. More than half of those who experienced psychological abuse reported ten or more different forms of it.
Participants identified loneliness and separation from loved ones as the most severe sources of stress. Suicidal thoughts while in detention were reported by 30.1% of respondents, while four people reported suicide attempts.
Humiliation was identified as a purpose of the abuse by 81.9% of respondents, while 80.6% cited subjugation or suppression of the individual. According to the authors’ interpretation, the violence was used not only to obtain testimony but also to discipline prisoners and undermine their personal autonomy.
The researchers recommend that rehabilitation take into account both prison-related trauma and subsequent fears for relatives and the difficulties of emigration. However, the sample was small and non-random, meaning the findings cannot automatically be generalized to all Belarusian political prisoners.