Unidentified activists mark Mikalai Statkevich's birthday with fireworks at prison walls

The fireworks were launched in the evening on 12 August near the building of Mahilou prioson No 4, where Mikalaj Statkievich is kept at the moment.

Mikalaj Statkevich was born on 12 August 1956 in the village of Ladna of the Slutsk district, Minsk region. He graduated from the Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft and Missile college of the Air-Defense Forces. He defended a doctoral dissertation and taught at the college. He has a scientific degree in technical sciences, a retired lieutenant colonel. On 20 August 2991 he publicly spoke against the putsch in Moscow. At the same time he announced the creation of a Belarusian Union of Military Servicemen.

Mikalai Statkevich was one of the presidential candidates in 2010 elections. He was arrested after a mass protest manifestation against the rigged elections results on 19 December 2010. Over 700 protesters got arrested then, including candidates for president Andrei Sannikau, Uladzimir Niakliayeu, Aliaksei Mikhalevich and their team members.

On26 May 2011 the politician was sentenced to six 6 years of imprisonment in a high security prison. In 2012 the imprisonment conditions were toughened – he has been transferred from the penal colony No. 17 in Shklou to the prison No. 4 in Mahilou, where he is kept in solitary confinement.