In the Mosty district, former inmates were centrally sent to the agricultural enterprise "Adam Mickiewicz" to collect stones and clean farms. The police call this "rethinking mistakes," while human rights defenders call it a violation of human rights, writes Hrodno.Life.
Photo: vk.com / uvdgrodno
In the Mosty district, people registered with the criminal enforcement inspectorate of the District Department of Internal Affairs were directed to work at the agricultural enterprise "Adam Mickiewicz," as reported by the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee. In official reports, they are referred to as "those on supervision" ("poduchetnye").
According to the police, the people were engaged in clearing fields of stones — this, it is claimed, should reduce the risk of equipment breakdown and increase yields. They were also involved in tidying up the farm where calves live.
What the Police Say
Such "campaigns" are carried out regularly. The department presents them as an element of socialization: work on the land, according to law enforcement, should contribute to "correction" and a return to normal life.
"Work, including in the fresh air and in rural areas, disciplines a person, provides an opportunity to rethink past mistakes, and feel a sense of belonging to the life of the district. For their part, law enforcement officers will continue to assist in the employment and socialization of citizens who have previously stumbled, orienting them towards finding a stable source of income, as this is the key to a law-abiding lifestyle," the police are confident.
It is not specified whether the people were paid for their work.
People also worked on the farm. Photo: vk.com / uvdgrodno
What Human Rights Defenders Say
Human rights defenders classify such work in agriculture as forced labor.
The practice of mobilizing people for compulsory labor for economic development contradicts ILO Convention No. 105, which prohibits the use of forced labor even in exceptional cases.
International bodies, including UN agencies, have previously criticized similar practices, for example, in Turkmenistan, where civil servants, students, and workers are compelled to perform agricultural work under threat of sanctions. In Belarus, seasonal campaigns play a similar role: in spring – collecting stones from fields, in autumn – harvesting crops.
In addition to people on supervision, students, public sector employees, military personnel, and even schoolchildren are involved in such work in Belarus.
Collecting stones in the Mosty district. Photo: vk.com / uvdgrodno
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«Arbeit macht frei»
Агульныя скрэпы таталітарных рэжымаў ХХ стагоддзя.