Story of Alina Beresneva- Police Brutality in Prisons of Belarus

Alina Beresneva, Belarusian citizen told BBC journalists- Elizaveta Fokht, Anna Pushkarskaya, Oksana Chizh about the her experience of being detained. She told the journalist that on night from 9-10th August (when elections took place and the results were finally released which sparked protests to start) she was going home with her friends, when OMON ( police special forces) approached them and thew them into the ground, although she and her friends weren't protesting.( this happens a lot during the protests, where police doesn't detain only those who protest, but it could be practically anyone, including just passing by bicycle rider). Then they bundled them into the a bus and took the to Okrestina police detention centre (where most detainees were taken during the protest that sparked from 9th till 12th August, as well as where all the horrible stories of being mistreated by the police happened). Beresneva then shared that at the entrance stood a man who shouted: "Faster, you bitches!" I said: "Why are you speaking to us like that?" He grabbed my neck and kicked me against the wall'. She than shares that she and other 12 girls were put in the cell designed for 4 people. Whilst they were in the cell they weren't given any food and after 24 hours when they asked to have some food they received "No, bitches, now you'll find out who to vote for". When Alina Beresneva asked to read what she papers she was given to sign at the police detention centre she was told: "I'll tell you, you bitch, get on and sign it, or I'll [rape] you and put you away for another 20 days." On August the 11th, Alina Beresneva says, the police vans came with detainees, and she saw how brutally police treated the male detainees by forcing them to kneel half naked, with their backsides in the air, hands behind their heads and anyone who resisted were beaten with batons. This is another horrifying story, that lead me to exploring and showing my solidarity with people who struggled from the regime. There are hundreds and thousands of people who went though traumatic experiences in the walls of Okrestina and other prisons, which could have scarred many people for the rest of their lives. I believe it is not right to say that I could gain inspiration from that because I believe it can be disrespectful for people who went thought horrors of police brutality, but what I want to do is show my solidarity with these people, to show support. Therefore, I'm planning to add the names of people who suffered from the horrors of the regime, saying that i stand with in solidarity with them and that their stories will be remembered.

'Detainees freed on Friday got medical treatment outside the Minsk detention centre, BBC Russia'

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