Political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich sent back to colony in Shklou
A former candidate for Presidency in Belarus, Mikalai Statkevich, has been transferred back to the colony No. 17 in Shklou from Mahiliou prison No. 4.
BelaPAN was informed by Maryna Adamovich, the wife of opposition politician, that the representatives of Mahiliou prison had told her that Statkevich had been sent off on January 12. "He was in Shklou, from where he was transferred to prison three years ago", she said.
Adamovich noted that this colony was "an exceptional place in terms of exerting pressure on political prisoners".
The head of the colony and his Deputy, she said, are included into the list of persons banned from entering the EU countries.
Adamovich believes that "the current situation has changed" and the political prisoner will not be put such pressure on as it used to be before, although the process of sending him to a new place is a test for the political prisoner".
In May 2011, the Leninski District Court in Minsk sentenced Statkevich to six years in prison for organizing mass disorder on the day of presidential elections in December 19, 2010. The opposition politician initially served his term in Shklou colony No. 17, but in January 2012, conditions of the completion of sentence were tightened and he was sent to Mahiliou prison No. 4 for three years. The term expired on January 12.
Mikolai Statkevich, 58 years old, is the only candidate for presidency, who is still imprisoned. He has been repeatedly offered to write a pardon to Aliaksandr Lukashenka, but he refuses to do so.
