Belarusian Association of Journalists moves for release of Atroshchankau Bandarenka and Seviarynets
The journalist association sent a letter to the Presidential Administration on 31 August 2011.
“Taking into consideration the granted pardon to a number of people, convicted for participation in the events of 19 December 2010 as well as a statement, delivered by the President of Belarus on the necessity to start a broad dialogue in the country, we call on you to initiate the release from custody of journalists and BAJ members Aliaksandr Atroshchankau and Dzmitry Bandarenka, imprisoned within the abovementioned case, as well as Pavel Seviarynets, sentenced to restriction of liberty”, BAJ leaders underscored in the letter of appeal. “The organization regards their criminal prosecution as restriction of freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Constitution of Belarus”, they added.
Moreover, the Belarusian Association of Journalists drew attention to the recent operation, undergone by Dzmitry Bandarenka in custody, and stressed that “further serving of his sentence may exert the most negative impact on the state of his health”.
The letter was signed by the BAJ Chairperson Zhanna Litvina on behalf of BAJ Board.
In the meanwhile, Dzmitry Bandarenka was transferred to a penal colony. “It was done in secret. The political prisoner’s relatives were not informed about that,” the “Charter“97” Web-site noted on 1 September 2011.
