German Diplomats Aren’t Allowed to Meet with Prisoner of Conscience

According to unofficial information, several days ago the German Embassy in Minsk received the answer from Ivatsevichy penal colony concerning the request to meet with the political prisoner Valiery Lievanieuski. The colony administration refused to give such a possibility to the diplomats without explaining the reasons. Meanwhile, Valiery Lievanieuski has been on hunger-strike since 13 November. He demands to punish the duty officials who, he believes, have violated his rights.

By the way, it’s not the first time diplomats are prohibited to meet with political prisoners. Recently the same thing happened to the request of Czech diplomats for meeting with Mikhail Marynich.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on the refusal to German diplomats, refusing to the absence of the official who had the information at his disposal.