Political Prisoner Mikola Statkevich Can’t Visit His Sick Father

24.11.2006.

Mikola Statkevich, leader of Belarusian Social Democrats, serves his forced labor term in Blon village of Pukhavichy district. The authorities do not let him visit his father, 79, in Baranavichy, Brest region.

The political prisoner told Charter’97, according to the Law, all individuals serving a term of forced labor have a right for a leave for several days every month. All prisoners serving the sentence with Statkevich, get such leaves. However, the last time Statkevich had a chance to visit his father was in September this year.

“I am constantly applying to the administration in the village of Sitniki, Pukhavichy district, where I am registered formally; however, my requests are always turned down without explanation. Recently the head of the administration of the correctional institution began to hide from me and stopped answering my phone calls. As far as I know, an order not to let me leave was received from higher authorities,” Mikola Statkevich said.

Mikala Statkevich’s father is 79. Last year he underwent a carcinectomy. The elderly man lives alone.