Andrei Sannikov and Zmitser Bandarenka: Freedom for all political prisoners!

Activists of Andrei Sannikov's team held a press conference in Warsaw.

Director of the Belarusian House in Warsaw Zmitser Barodka, Andrei Sannikov's campaign manager Uladzimir Kobets, editor of charter97.org website and former political prisoner Natallia Radzina and Zmitser Bandarenka's daughter Yulia took part in the event. Journalists of Poland's leading media had an opportunity to talk to recently released political prisoners Andrei Saniikov and Zmitser Bandarenka via Skype and see them on a large screen in the Belarusian House in Warsaw.

“This is the first joyful press conference in the Belarusian House after December 19, 2010. Our friends Andrei Sannikov and Zmitser Bandarenka have been released. I hope the remaining political prisoners will be freed soon. I'd like to thank all journalists for their help and support,” Zmitser Barodka, the director of the Belarusian House in Warsaw, said.

“Though 24 hours have passed since my father was released, I still cannot believe it. I am happy we have a joyful occasion to meet unlike the previous times, when I had to say about deteriorations in my father's health. The release of my father proves the sanctions against the Lukashenka regime appeared to be effective whatever one may say,” Yulia Bandarenka noted.

“We need to continue applying pressure on the Lukashenka regime until all political prisoners are released. Trade and easing are out of question. I'd like to remind that political prisoners were freed after the 2006 presidential elections only after the United States imposed economic sanctions. This time, people were released due to effective economic sanctions by the EU. I'd like to pay special attention to Zmitser Bandarenka's words he said just after his release. The rest political prisoners are in danger now. People in prisons are under unprecedented pressure. We have no exact information about Syarhei Kavalenka, who went on hunger strike and found himself on the verge of death. Mikalai Statkevich and Mikalai Autukhovich are in closed prisons, other political prisoners are being transfered from one prison to another. Dozens of people, among them Iryna Khalip, Uladizmir Nyaklyaeu, Anastasia Palazhanka, Pavel Vinahradau and many others, are still restricted in freedom All released people are also restricted in their actions and cannot travel abroad. These people are hostages. They can be arrested at any time,” Natallia Radzina said.

“Andrei Sannikov's strong and united team worked hard. Our leader is out of prison. Zmitser Bandarenka is out of prison. We continue our work to release the country from the medieval dictatorship. Of course, we welcome the release of two political prisoners, but we remind the demands of the EU and the US are the release of all prisoners on conscience. This was the first step, but is shouldn't be the only one. The next step is amending the electoral legislation, holding free transparent elections and releasing mass media from pressure and censorship,” Uladzimir Kobets said.

Andrei Sannikov and Zmitser Bandarenka answered questions of journalists:

Answering a question why Lukashenka released Zmitser Bandarenka and him, Andrei Sannikov said:

“I do not think it's freedom. My wife is still a hostage. I am restricted in my actions. There is no freedom in Belarus, so it's difficult to talk about freedom. Why was I released from prison? It's because it was pressure and especially solidarity and support. It's also because the world showed a clear position that Lukashenka should release political prisoners. Thank you all.”

Sannikov said to a question if Lukashenka wants something from the EU in response to the release of two prisoners of conscience:

“The question of trade in political prisoners has never disappeared. I do not rule out this opportunity. At the same time, we cannot say it with certainty. There is a hope it is not so today and we should focus on continuing our struggle to release the remaining prisoners.

I know it's difficult for Lukashenka to take such decisions. I welcome the release of Zmitser and me and I will welcome such steps in relation to other political prisoners.”

Speaking about the confinement conditions, Andrei Sannikov noted: “My normal imprisonment ended in September and torture began. It was a special order to put pressure on me.”

Zmitser Bandarenka thanked Poles at the beginning:

“First of all I'd like to say many thanks to Poland. Great thanks to Poles, politicians and ordinary people who were covering our situation. We were released also due to the firm position of Poland. At the beginning, I faced  more difficult conditions in the KGB jail. I had problems with my spine. The system hits  where it hurts. In my case, it was my health. But I think I did not go through a small part of what Sannikov faced.”

Bandarenka expressed special thanks to Polish member of the European Parliament Marek Migalski, who took godparenthood over him and his family and demonstrated best efforts to release him.

Andrei Sannikov said at the end:

“The release of Zmitser and me is the step that should not be the last. All political prisoners should be released. I am asking decision-makers to continue to raise this question. Long live Belarus!”