Zmitser Bandarenka released (updated, pictures added)

15/04/2012 - 09:59

14.40 According to Euroradio reporter Ales Piletski, Bandarenka looks well in comparison with Andrei Sannikau. However, he has grown thin and says that he feels bad.

Zmitser Bandarenka has claimed that he is going to remain a politician. He has noted that he has been treated well recently. “I have not gone through anything in comparison with Andrei Sannikau”, - said Bandarenka to journalists.

The ex-political prisoner has also said that he was offered freedom right after the detention in the winter of 2011. However, he had to cooperate with KGB in exchange. According to Bandarenka, the special forces wanted to control the website of “Charter’97”. But Bandarenka refused.

The politician has also informed that he would have pled for mercy earlier if he had known about Sannikau’s plea.

Zmitser can walk on his own although he underwent an operation on his leg not long ago.

He says that his release was also good news for the administration of the colony.

With Danik Sannikau.

With wife Volha.

"I am so happy to see my relatives, hug my wife, Andrei Sannikau and Iryna Halip”, - says Bandarenka. However, he says that he does not feel free. “I am a hostage, just like my friends… the fact that there are political prisoners in the country is not normal”, - he says.

Photo by blogger Andrei Kabanau

He has been released from Mahilyou colony today. He has reached home by jitney.

13.35 The Sannikaus have come to meet Zmitser Bandarenka.

13.05 Relatives, friends and journalists are gathering at the depot “Eastern” to meet the released politician. About 15 people have already gathered there. Member of the steering committee of “Belarusian Movement” Victar Ivashkevich is among them. Andrei Sannikau and his wife Iryna Halip are also expected to come.

Sannikau was released yesterday, on April 14.

The political prisoner’s wife Volha Bandarenka has informed Euroradio that Zmitser will arrive at the depot “Eastern” at about 1.30 p.m.

Zmitser Bandarenka was one of the key persons in Andrei Sannikau’s team during the presidential election in 2010. He was released on the evening of April 14.

Bandarenka was arrested after the events in the Square and sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a medium security colony. His chronic diseases exacerbated right after his arrest in December 2010. He underwent a complicated operation on his spine – he had a hernia. Like Andrei Sannikau, Bandarenka also pled Alyaksandr Lukashenka for mercy.

The state leader claimed on April 5 that some convicts “the West considered to be political prisoners” could be released soon.

According to Lukashenka, he received “loads of pleas” after he had claimed that it was the main term for the release. When information about the fact that the pleas had been signed under pressure appeared, the state leader ordered to check the information. As a result, he received a video where political prisoners confessed that they had pled for mercy voluntary. Only “one or two” have not pled for mercy, says Lukashenka.

The following people returned guilty for various reasons and considered to be political prisoners are still in jail:

1. Mіkola Statkevіch, ex-presidential candidate (6 years of imprisonment)

2. Paval Sevyarynets, co-chairperson of Belarusian Christian Democracy (3 years of penal labour)

3. Zmіtser Dashkevіch, “Young Front” leader (2 years of imprisonment)

4. Eduard Lobau, “Young Front” member (4 years of imprisonment)

5. Ales Byalyatskі, head of the human rights centre “Viasna” (4.5 years of imprisonment)

6. Mіkalai Autuhovіch (5 years and 2 months of imprisonment)

7. Syarhei Kavalenka (25 months of imprisonment)

The people imprisoned because of the so-called “anarchists’ cases” are also considered to be political prisoners:

8. Іhar Alіnevіch (8 years of imprisonment)

9. Mіkalai Dzyadok (4.5 years of imprisonment)

10. Yauhen Vaskovіch (7 years of imprisonment)