Charges brought against Andrei Sannikov

The charges are cruel and ridiculous, like the repressions launched by the dictatorial regime.

“Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov is accused of organizing mass riot, attended by violence against a person, violent attacks, destruction of property, and armed resistance to representatives of the authorities,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus said. According to investigators, Sannikov’s guilt was “proved in full by the facts obtained during the criminal investigation”. Sannikov and his lawyers will examine the materials of the criminal case, which will then be send to prosecutor’s office of Minsk and then to court.

Lawyers Maryna Kavaleuskaya and Andrei Varvashevich saw their client in the KGB jail on Tuesday. The lawyers attended investigatory actions with participation of Andrei Sannikov today.

As the lawyers told charter97.org, the politician suffers from gout and otitis. He receives medical care in the limits allowed in the KGB jail. According to the lawyers, Sannikov looks “satisfactory”.

Andrei Sannkov said he loves everybody and thanked for support. The conditions are difficult, but he hopes for better, the lawyer says.

Maryna Kavaleuskaya and Andrei Varvashevich filed an appeal to prosecutor of Minsk asking to stop criminal persecution of Andrei Sannikov and choose a softer measure of restraint for him. The content of appeals cannot be disclosed because it may be a secret of investigation.

We remind that by “mass riot” the repressive Belarusian machine means a provocation organized by the security services during the peaceful protest demonstration against the electoral fraud on December 19, 2010. Some glass panels of the doors of the House of Government were broken. Belarus faced a tide of repressions: arrests of presidential candidates, activists of their teams, journalists, human rights activists, and youth leaders. Most of independent mass media, offices of democratic and human rights organizations were raided. Arrests still go on. Many activists had to leave the country. Political prisoners are standing trials and get 3 or 4 years in prison. Many respected people are in the KGB jail, under house arrest or under a ban to leave their towns. They are presidential candidates Andrei Sannikov, Mikalai Statkevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, journalist Iryna Khalip, leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the BCD party Pavel Sevyarynets, presidential candidate Sannikov’s spokesman Alyaksandr Atroshchnakau, editor of charter97.org website Natallya Radzina, leader of Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich and Anastasia Palazhanka, and many others.