AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: In the latest in a monthly series on political prisoners, The Irish Times, in association with Amnesty International, focuses on the case of Andrei Sannikau from Belarus
FOR MOST politicians losing an election is a painful experience; for Andrei Sannikau, it cost him his freedom.
Andrei (57) was one of seven Belarusian presidential candidates detained at a rally on December 19th after Alexander Lukashenko won a fourth term as president of Belarus, with nearly 80 per cent of the vote. Western monitors charitably described the poll as “flawed” and three of those candidates are now in prison.
Both Andrei and his wife, journalist Irina Khalip, were arrested after riot police officers crushed the rally, organised to protest apparent fraud in the elections. Irina was later given a two-year suspended prison sentence but for Andrei, his suffering was only beginning.
He says he was beaten during his arrest and then confined, naked, to a freezing cellar where he was made to stand in stress positions before being physically assaulted by masked men.
Across Belarus the security services, still called the KGB in the former Soviet republic, rounded up people across the country for even the vaguest affiliation with the opposition.
They not only searched Andrei’s home, but also that of his mother-in-law, who has been caring for the couple’s child, Danil. The government had warned that it could take custody of Danil if his grandmother was deemed unfit to care for him. Relatives however, believe it was an effort to intimidate the boy’s parents.
The grandmother, Lyutsina Khalip, told journalists by phone that, “I can’t say anything or I risk making it worse” and has now signed an agreement promising not to reveal details about the search.
Sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on May 14, on charges of organising mass protests, Andrei Sannikau made a public statement during his trial in which he said he had been tortured and otherwise ill-treated in detention, and accused the head of the KGB detention facility of threatening “the life and health” of his wife and child.
Following an urgent action appeal from Amnesty International, and increasing international pressure on the Belarusian government, Andrei was allowed to see his wife on May 20th for a single hour. Separated by a glass screen, this was the first time they had seen each other for five months.
Andrei appeared well and was in good spirits and asked his wife to thank all those who had supported him and his family, and all the journalists and human rights activists who have continued to write about the events of December 19th in Minsk.
Since the day of that demonstration hundreds of political prisoners have been rounded up in Belarus. Journalists, students, civil society activists and members of opposition political parties have all been targeted. Many who have been released have claimed they were tortured or abused by prison guards. Others denied visits, cut off from their friends and family, and Amnesty International believes they are at serious risk of more ill-treatment.
Responding to the human rights crackdown, the EU has condemned the sentencing of innocent people in unfair trials, and the harassment of media and civil society. Economic sanctions have been introduced against a considerable number of leading Belarusian officials, linked to the current widespread violations.
Andrei Sannikau is a prisoner of conscience, jailed solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and he should be released immediately and unconditionally. We urgently need your help.
Please act now to support our call to Vadim Zaitsev, chairman, State Security Committee (KGB), demanding that Andrei is released.
You can write to Chairman Vadim Zaitsev, State Security Committee (KGB), ul. Komsomolskaya 17, 220050 Minsk, Belarus. Or log on to www.amnesty.ie and take action online