News on the topic: political prisoners
17.02.2012 MEPs urge Belarus to abolish death penalty and free political prisoners
European Parliament resolution of 16 February 2012 on the death penalty in Belarus, in particular the cases of Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavalyou
16.02.2012 Former political prisoners taken under tight control
Policeman Vitaly Plyashko from a police department in Baranavichy phoned former political prisoner Dzmitry Novok to call him for a conversation.
15.02.2012 Letters in support of political prisoners
On 14 February ex-political prisoner Siarhei Kazakou and Aliaksandr Vialitchanka, recently expelled from a university, sent letters to the Presidential Administration with the demand of immediate release of political prisoners, including Zmitser Bandarenka, Ales Bialiatski, Andrei Sannikau, Mikola Statkevich and others. The youngsters intend to continue sending such letters until receiving a clear answer.
15.02.2012 President of EU Parliament demands to free political prisoners in Belarus
Martin Schulz, the EP President, and Stefan Füle, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, have had a meeting today. They discussed the situation in Belarus. Martin Schulz made a statement after the meeting, ERB reports.
15.02.2012 Lawyer not allowed to meet with Andrei Sannikau
Iryna Khalip, Sannikau’s wife: “They explained that Andrei worked on morning shifts. However, he has always been working morning shifts and he [the lawyer] used to be allowed to meet him. It looks like the isolation has been resumed”.
13.02.2012 Vitsebsk: criminal case can be instigated against Siarhei Ryzhou
Siarhei Ryzhou, pretender to the presidential position at the latest presidential election, was dismissed from work after participation in the electoral campaign and has been unable to find a job since that time, even though he is registered at the social employment center.
10.02.2012 Ex-political prisoner Mirzayanau files individual communication with UN Human Rights Committee
According to the information provided by the web-site of the UCP, The Supreme Court declined the appeal against the sentence made by the first instance court and the cassation court. In the Supreme Court's opinion, Mirzayanau "foresaw the consequences dangerous for the society and wanted these consequences to happen".
09.02.2012 Anarchist Frantskevich deprived of short-term meeting with his mother
Tatsiana Frantskevich passed a 30kg parcel to her son, who serves sentence in penal colony # 22 “Vouchyia Nory”.
09.02.2012 No pardon for Zmitser Bandarenka
A lawyer has visited Zmitser Bandarenka in the Mahiliou penal colony today.
08.02.2012 EU urges Belarusian authorities to stop torture of political prisoners
The EU calls on Belarus to fulfill the country’s international obligations of the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
06.02.2012 Action in support of political prisoners held in New-York
A picket in support of Belarusian political prisoners was held on 4 February near the UN headquarters in New-York. The picket participants held portraits of Zmitser Bandarenka, Ales Bialiatski, Andrei Sannikau and Mikalai Statkevich in their hands. The action was organized by the Belarusian-American Association “Pahonia”.
06.02.2012 Zmitser Bandarenka applies for pardon
The political prisoner, who was denied parole in spite of serious problems with health, applied for a pardon on 1 February. Zmitser Bandarenka said this to his wife on the phone on 4 February.
03.02.2012 Supreme Court upholds verdict to Sannikau
The appeal against the ruling of the Partyzanski district court of Minsk filed by lawyers of presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau was dismissed.
02.02.2012 Vitsebsk: wife received letter from Siarhei Kavalenka with two-week delay
In the Vitsebsk pre-trial prison Alena Kavalenka was assured that there were no delays with the sending of letters and they were checked within the legally allowed term, three days. However, on 1 February she received a letter dated 17 January. In this letter the hunger-striker Siarhei Kavalenka wrote that he was subject to forced feeding.
01.02.2012 Supreme Court turns down appeal against verdict to political prisoner Eduard Lobau
The Supreme Court of Belarus didn’t grant the appeal against the verdict to the activist of the “Young Front” Eduard Lobau, according to which he was sentenced to 4 years in high-security prison, as the testimonies of the “victims” in the case were allegedly trustworthy.
