Viasna’s statement on detention conditions of businessman Bandarenka

The Human Rights Center Viasna expresses its concern over situation with the convicted entrepreneur Andrei Bandarenka

Statement

Minsk, 24 November, 2010

Member of the National Committee of the United Civic Party, candidate for Parliament during the 2008 election Andrei Bandarenka is serving a sentence in Babruisk penal colony, where he has been repeatedly subject to harassment by the colony’s administration, including repeated ungrounded incarceration, disciplinary sanctions, refusals of medical aid. Besides, Andrei Bandarenka has been reported to be subject to psychological pressure – he has been threatened with ‘sudden death.’ The facts show that the colony’s administration has been using cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment against Bandarenka, viewed as torture by the international law.

We would like to emphasize that Andrei Bandarenka was convicted on 23 Fenruary 2010 for alleged ‘theft by fraud.’ The entrepreneur considers the verdict a politically-motivated decision. Bandarenka was on a protest hunger-strike from 15 June to 7 July 2010. The Human Rights Center Viasna believes the prosecution of Bandarenka was steered by political grounds. The verdict is also disputable in respect to its legality and well-foundedness.

Considering all this, the Human Rights Center Viasna calls upon the Belarusian authorities to, in particular the Interior Ministry, to refrain from violating the rights of Andrei Bandarenka and to provide him with proper detention conditions. We demand to promptly stop threats of the convict’s life and health.