Andrei Sannikau searched on border
A former political prisoner and presidential
candidate was taken off a train from Minsk to Vilnius.
It was Andrei Sannikau's private visit to Vilnius. Among other things, he was
going to visit a doctor. Customs officers ordered him to get off the train at
Hudahai station on the Belarusian border. The politician told charter97.org
website he underwent a strip search.
“They carried out a customs examination under article 117 of the Customs Code
of the Customs Union. I was strip
searched. It lasted for three hours. They were polite, but did not explain
anything referring to instructions. Finally, they said I could leave the
country, but the train had already departed,” Andrei Sannikau said.
The politician has to stay at Hudahai station till evening waiting for the next
train.
Andrei Sannikau was a candidate for presidency in Belarus in the 2010 election.
He was sentenced to 5 years in prison after protests against the rigged results
of the presidential election. He remained in prison 16 months. He was tortured
and ill-treated in prison. He was released on 14 April 2012.
