Andrei Sannikov: Do not believe Lukashenka’s false promises

The words of the dictator about a possible release of political prisoners are a lie with the aim to receive credits from the West.

Andrei Sannikov, a presidential candidate in Belarus, has written that in the letter to his wife Iryna Khalip.

Yesterday Iryna Khalip was denied a right for a legal visit to her husband. The reason for that had been obviously sending a policy message by the prisoner from jail. He stated that he remains a presidential candidate of Belarus, as Alyaksandr Lukashenka had not won the presidential election, and a second round should be held in the country, or a new presidential election under international democratic control.

Since then Andrei Sannikov is denied the right to communicate, and letters from him are received less frequently.

“In his latest letter Andrei wrote that the statement of Lukashenka about possible release of political prisoners made in Kazakhstan is a lie with the aim to be given credits. As said by him, Lukashenka is a coward, he fears rivalry and would not release him ever.

Andrei also writes that there is a serious threat of his liquidation in prison. He does not exclude a possibility of reprisal against him in the colony. Considering that Andrei is sent to Navapolatsk colony, which is known for its cruel regime, such a threat is realistic. Moreover, a SWAT officer of Andrei Vasilyeu, suspected in being involved in “death squads’ ” assassinations of Lukashenka’s opponents, is serving the sentence there. In exchange for early release he or somebody else can do anything at all,” Iryna Khalip said in an interview to charter97.org.

Andrei Sannikov, a presidential candidate in Belarus, has been sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment for organising mass riots against rigging the presidential election results on December 19, 2010. Before the sentence was pronounced, he made a loud statement in the court. He told that in the KGB jail tortures, pressure and threats were used against him. At the KGB jail he was victimized by soldiers of unknown special forces in masks, armed with truncheons and electric shockers. Over the entire period of interrogations, Sannikov was placed to a cell without a bed, he was sleeping under the plank bed. He underwent humiliating searches, made undress, stand in a stretch out position, his arms twisted; his legs were hit with truncheons. Vadzim Zaitsau, the KGB Chairman, personally held “explanatory conversations” with Sannikov and made threats to life and health of his wife and son.