MEP Migalski appeals to Catherine Ashton and Jerzy Buzek for "fast intervention" in the case of Bandarenka

Dr Marek Migalski sent letters concerning Dzmitry Bandarenka to the Catherine Ashton  as well as to Jerzy Buzek, appealing to both for the fast intervention in his case. In the letter to Mr. Buzek Migalski writes that “ I am aware that you must speak up on behalf of all Belarusian political prisoners but due to Dzmitry Bandarenka’s health problems and the perspective of him becoming a disabled person, please do react to this situation immediately”.

Dear Catherine Ashton,

I am fully aware that you are firmly committed to the full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Therefore I ask you to decidedly intervene on behalf of  Dzmitry Bandarenka, Belarusian political prisoner. He was sentenced by a Minsk court to two years in a penal colony for participating in a demonstration on 19 December 2010. During the 2010 elections, he served as Andrej Sannikau's representative and as coordinator of the ‘European Belarus’ campaign.

Dzmitry Bandarenka suffers from health problems, and his condition is deteriorating every day. He is currently being held in a prison hospital on Minsk's Volodarskogo Street. He is not receiving appropriate medical care, which could result in him losing the use of his both legs and in his long‑term disability.

As I have learned from his family, he corroborated the allegations about severe conditions and various „sophisticated” methods of physical and mental torture applied by secret services on political prisoners. Due to such treatment Bandarenka’s health has worsened. If he does not receive an appropriate medical care soon he will lose the use of his both legs which may result in his long‑term disability. 

Moreover, I do appeal to you to impose even greater economic sanctions on Belarus in response to the regime’s continuing crackdown on human rights.