Vasil Berasneu, a political prisoner in the "case of independent trade unions", serving his sentence in Mahiliou penal colony No. 15, was urgently sent to Mahiliou regional hospital.
During his stay in the pre-trial detention center Vasil Berasneu health has significantly deteriorated: the most dangerous thing is that he is suffering from pain in his only kidney. However, the situation is so critical that medical treatment makes no sense. A kidney transplant is necessary. For a long time there was no response to the prisoner's numerous requests and applications for medical assistance and referral for examination. Against the background of health problems, his blood pressure has significantly increased and now it is necessary to take appropriate medication on a daily basis.
Human rights activist Ihar Kazimerchak does not hide his concern about this situation:
- It is not easy to live with one kidney in freedom, and besides, there is a prison here. Therefore, Berasneu could not be imprisoned in principle. And in today's situation, Vasily's health should be discussed as widely as possible. In fact, this is another attempt to simply bring a political prisoner to a tragedy.
It is known that at critical moments he is put on an anesthetic drip, which does not solve the problem, and given pills for blood pressure.
Vasil Berasneu, 73, is the leader of the Orsha Independent Trade Union REP and acting chairman of the REP trade union. He was detained on April 19, 2022 as part of a criminal case. The man was placed in the pre-trial detention center and brought fabricated charges.
January 5, 2023, Vasil was sentenced: the activists of the Belarusian independent trade unions were found guilty.Anastasia Papko sentenced Vasil Berasneu to nine years of hardened regime imprisonment.Soon the political prisoner was transferred from SIZA-1 to Mahiliou prison № 4, and in May - to Mahiliou penal colony № 15.The appeal against the sentence was considered by the Supreme Court. On April 3, 2023, the judicial board chaired by Judge Piotr Listratenka decided to leave the verdict unchanged and to leave the appeals unsatisfied.
On May 5, 2023, the Interior Ministry included the political prisoner in the "List of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens and stateless persons involved in extremist activities.
The appeal against the verdict was considered by the Supreme Court. On April 3, 2023 the judicial board chaired by Judge Piotr Listratenka decided to leave the verdict unchanged and the appeals without satisfaction.
On May 5, 2023, the Interior Ministry included the political prisoner in the "List of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens and stateless persons involved in extremist activities.
The leader of the REP trade union Hennadz Fiadynich and trade union activist Vatslau Areshka have similar terms and serious health condition.The health condition and conditions of detention of the BKDP leader Aliaksandr Yarashuk have deteriorated. The international trade union movement is concerned about this situation and believes that the regime is cracking down on the democratic labor movement in this way.