A peek into the hollow strength: The grim reality of prison food in Belarus
Weight loss is unusually prominent among Belarusian residents.
The tale of Alexander Velesnitskiy, a former officer now serving time in a Belarusian prison, unfolds a harsh, unforgiving scenario - a far cry from a cozy sanatorium - where food is scarce, tasteless, and often unfit for human consumption. His weight plummeted a considerable 15 kilograms during his incarceration, symbolizing more than just numbers on a scale.
In the anguished echoes of Sergei Tikhanovsky's words, one can feel the pain of endless days under a regime catering meals that seem more akin to a slap in the face than a sustenance. The food, he described, was often barely enough to stave off starvation, with even a humble potato serving as a brief moment of joy.
Luxuriant bounties quickly turned to meager rations as Alexander transitioned to Colony No. 15 in Mogilev. Prisoners relying solely on the paltry provisions from the store struggled the most, a reality that Alexander himself was wary of.
Google Artem Zadruckiy, and you'll find a man who echoed similar experiences. A fellow inmate in the notorious Zeltser case, Artem spent over a year behind bars, a span that left a visible imprint on his frail physique. He recalled the detention center's carbohydrate-rich meals devoid of protein, often highlighting the inedible concoction of sour cabbage, serving as the daily menu's staple dish.
If a prisoner couldn't rely on outside aid or afford additional purchases with their earning coupons, they were left to survive on such meals, making weight loss a pervasive and unavoidable reality.
Yet, answers may not be as simple as they seem. Psychiatrist Pavel Perepelkin, who worked in Brest's SIZO-7 for a decade, shared a contrasting perspective. He asserted that, more often than not, prisoners find themselves gaining weight due to minimal physical activity. Their small, stone cells hardly offering the opportunity for a full workout, combined with a diet that covered basic caloric and nutritional needs, led to an increase in weight for most inmates.
Pavel pointed to Decree No. 169 of the Council of Ministers, which outlined a permissible list of foodstuffs for prisoners, emphasizing its sufficiency in meeting the essential parameters. However, he added that despite this, the food was often prepared with the cheapest ingredients, resulting in tasteless, monotonous meals that could quickly grow tiresome.
Inevitably, inmates in pre-trial detention centers found themselves biting into a tempting apple one moment, and the same fruit transforming into a bitter entity the next, reminiscent of Artem's experience with the infamous sour cabbage soup. The inescapable winter cold further exacerbated their weight loss struggles, as their bodies burned calories in a desperate attempt to maintain warmth.
But the vicissitudes don't stop there. Artem also shed light on psychological factors responsible for weight fluctuations. Prisoners were often subjected to extreme stress, and conditions particularly harsh for political prisoners. This stress could manifest in depression, an appetite-killing symptom that prevented recovery even with a diet rich in calories.
The unsavory tale of Belarusian prisons took a darker turn when discussing the situation in colonies. Inmates faced more demanding physical labor while being restricted in their ability to purchase additional food, paralleling Pavel's observations. The absence of loved ones further limited any direct outlet for support, forcing inmates to settle for the bland offerings of prison kitchens.
The story of inadequate food and malnutrition in Belarusian prisons is a narrative woven with varying threads, each as intricate as the one before. The systemic failures in the safety, quality, and nutritional content of meals have cast a shadow over the well-being of detainees, adding another chapter to their already daunting ordeal.
The lack of nutrition in prison food, seen in the weight loss of imprisoned individuals like Alexander Velesnitskiy and Artem Zadruckiy, raises concerns about health-and-wellness and weight-management. Pavel Perepelkin, a psychiatrist who has worked in Belarusian prisons, noted that prisoners often struggle with weight loss due to minimal physical activity and monotonous, tasteless meals, but also highlighted the role of psychological factors such as depression and stress. On the other hand, the inadequate food may not be the only issue, as prisoners in pre-trial detention centers face harsh conditions and limited support, which can further exacerbate their health challenges, including fitness-and-exercise and nutrition.
