More verdicts to participants of 19 December protest rally. Presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau sentenced to 5 years in medium security colony

The Belarusian presidential candidate was sentenced for his protest against the falsified elections. The judgement was delivered by judge Natallia Chatsviartkova. Prosecutor Anton Zaharouski demanded to give Andrei Sannikau 7 years in a medium security penal colony.

Participants of a protest demonstration against the election fraud, who stood trial with Sannikau, also got long terms of imprisonment: Illia Vasilevich – 3 years in a medium security penal colony; Aleh Hnedchyk – 3.5 years in a medium security penal colony; Fiodar Mirzayanau – 3 years in a medium security penal colony; Uladzimir Yaromenak – 3 years in a medium security penal colony.

Independent observers think the severe sentence to the Belarusian presidential candidate can be explained with Lukashenka’s desire to take revenge upon and settle scores with his strongest rival.

According to independent observers and human rights activists, it was Sannikov was gathered most of the votes at polling stations, where falsifications were prevented.

Andrei Sannikau made a loud statement in court before the verdict was announced. He said that humiliating tortures, pressure and threats were used towards him in the KGB jail. Masked men from an unknown special division armed with batons and electroshock weapons maltreated political prisoners there. During a period of interrogations, Sannikau had to sleep on the floor under a bunk; suffered from denigrating searches, when he had to stand naked by the wall with feet spread apart wider than shoulders; handcuffed, he had his arms twisted and was hit in his legs with a baton. KGB chairman Zaitsau had personal conversations with Sannikau and threatened the life and health of his wife and son.