Baranavičy: social activists congratulate Statkevich Sr. on Easter

Baranavičy activists Mikalai Antanovich, Uladzimir Hundar and Viktar Syrytsa visited Vitar Statkevich, father of political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, and congratulated him on Easter.

They spoke about the upcoming presidential election, the rise in prices, the events in Ukraine. But the most debated topic was the statement, filed to the Department of Corrections, the administration of the Shklou correctional colony No. 17, as well as the missions of the UN and EU in Belarus by the Center for Legal Transformation Lawtrend and Human Rights Center "Viasna" regarding the increased pressurization of Mikalai Statkevich.

“Viktar Statkevich finds about what is happening to his son at Shklou correctional colony from various sources, primarily from the Internet. Statkevich Sr. knows that his son refuses to write a petition for clemency, that he has been deprived of a food parcel and a long-term visit with relatives. He is vary worried that his son has been placed to a penal cell for three days, and on April 3 – to the cell-type facility for two months. Naturally he is very anxious about Mikalai's future and wishes to see him as soon as possible. We wished Viktar Statkevich a strong health and the hope that his brave son would honourably withstand all challenges, as he has done many times in his life,” said Viktar Syrytsa.

Mikalai Statkevich, former presidential candidate, was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment in the on charges of organizing a "mass riot" on the day of presidential elections, December 19, 2010. He pleads innocent and has been recognized a prisoner of conscience by the international human rights organization Amnesty International.