All Prisoners In Mazyr Penal Colony #20 Are Deprived Of Phone Conversation

• 18.07.2023, 16:21

The prison authorities are talking about a ‘cable breakdown’.

All the prisoners of the Mazyr penal colony #20 are deprived of the opportunity to make the standard four phone calls per month permitted by the regime. The human rights activists found it out. The authorities of the penal colony explain this with “cable breakdown”.

The problem worsened about a week ago. It was as usual at least until July 25. Instead of phone calls, prisoners are offered video calls via Skype, but on a special schedule (one video call can be equated to three phone calls) and it’s not for all. The pre-arranged call schedule for the month is no longer relevant.

It should be noted that the problem with phone calls in Belarusian prisons has escalated over the past year and a half. From January 1, 2022, Beltelecom is gradually eliminating the public telephone service as unclaimed and costly. Penitentiary institutions are the last places with these devices and some prisons started using mobile communications.