Pavel Sapelka: Only one political prisoner has chances for release under amnesty

The authorities are preparing another large-scale amnesty, according to euroradio.by.

Lawyer of the unregistered Human Rights Center "Viasna" Pavel Sapelka says that the amnesty bill has not yet been published. However, all such acts have similarities and general principles, so we can now assume whether political prisoners can be amnestied.

Mikalai Statkevich has already received several penalties since the beginning of the year. “If he has not yet been turned into an offender, they can do it quickly,” says the lawyer. His wife Maryna Adamovich confirms problems in his relationship with the prison authorities. According to her, Mikalai Statkevich once again chose a principled stand. And it is unlikely that this can bring something good for him.

Artsiom Prakapenka, Yauhen Vaskovich and Ihar Alinevich were convicted under Article 218 (intentional damage to or destruction of property) and not subject to amnesty in principle. They can only count on a reduction of the sentence by a year, and none of these political prisoners should have penalties and violations. Ihar Alinevich is not subject to this, while Prakapenka and Vaskovich still have a chance.

Yury Rubtsou has not yet received any violations and has not been declared an offender. Accordingly, he has a chance to be amnestied or have a reduced term.

Mikalai Dziadok was convicted under Article 411, that is, it is believed that he committed an intentional crime while serving his sentence. Accordingly, the amnesty does not apply to him in principle.