Investigation reveals German MP’s Belarus farm using political prisoners for labor

The Belarusian publication Reform.News reported.

Journalists report that Jörg Dornau signed an agreement with the Center for the Isolation of Offenders (CIO) in the Belarusian city of Lida, allowing him to regularly use political prisoners to work on his onion plantation. These prisoners were paid about 5 euros a day for their labor.

The publication spoke with one political prisoner, Andrey (name changed), who worked on the German MP's farm. He was detained in February 2024 and sentenced to 15 days in a detention center for liking a social media post. Andrey recounted that he had to work on the plantation from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. without any food or water.

The man also stated that a contract was signed between MP Dornau's company and the CIP, emphasizing that the work was not forced. He explained that the money earned was meant to cover the costs of maintaining the CIP.

"Consent to work was obtained daily. If the foreman thought the detainee was performing well, he would receive a salary. The Lida police department was paid 30 rubles, while the detainees received about 20. The onions were sorted for the Euroopt retail chain," Andrey explained.

• On September 16, the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andrii Demchenko, said that the presence of Russian troops on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border is not recorded, but Ukraine must be prepared for any scenario.