Andrei Sannikov: “I applaud you”

The presidential candidate issued a statement before his transfer to Navapolatsk penal colony from the Interior Ministry’s detention facility.

Andrei Sannikov, sentenced to five years in a medium security penal colony for a protest demonstration against the rigged presidential elections, evaluates the hearing of cassation appeals of political prisoners and thanks the Belarusians who take part in protest actions today.

“Judicial reprisals against participants of a peaceful demonstration on December 19, 2010, go on. Cassation appeals are heard in the way everyone expected – they are being dismissed. The Belarusian judicial system continues to demonstrate the politically motivated nature of all legal proceedings against peaceful demonstrators. It cannot be called other than spitting in the face of Belarusians.

We were not only deprived of the right to elect, but they continue to persecute dissidents, who constitute the vast majority of Belarusians. I was deprived of the right and opportunity to evaluate my verdict, I was refused attending hearing of my cassation appeal, but nevertheless I want to this evaluation to be heard.

The verdict to me does not only confirm the conclusions of the UN report in the early 2000s, which stated there are no independent courts in Belarus. This verdict demonstrates that courts in our country have become an integral part of the punitive system used for reprisals against the political opposition and civil society. From the very beginning of the court investigation, judge Chatvyartkova was biased in her support of the prosecution: she denied the motions of the defence necessary for a comprehensive consideration of the case, in particular motions to carry out expert examination of the footage, to attach to the case independent video and fotos made by a witness on the Square; she disclosed evidence of the “injured party” without objective obstacles for their direct questioning, refused to call witnesses for defence and dismissed the motions of defence to attach other materials to the case. At the same time, the judge satisfied all motions of the prosecution and the “injured party”.

Fulfilling the given task, the court showed impatience speeding up the court proceedings. The 40-page verdict was ready on the next day after the end of the trial that lasted several days. This means that it was prepared beforehand.

Neither during the investigation nor during court proceedings I heard evidence that I had had any prior plans, arrangements and even discussion of the actions falling under the article, in which violating I was tried. When court proceedings began, there was enough evidence showing that the results of the Belarusian presidential elections were falsified, none of the candidate gathered the number of votes necessary for the victory in the first round, a second round with my participation should have been held in accordance with the law. I have no doubts that my team and I would have won the vast majority of the votes in the second round.

It was this that drove Lukashenka into a panic fear. He is still in this state. He continues to give unlawful orders to crack down on everyone who expresses his discontent. I think the judicial bodies were given such an order to crack down on me as a real opponent. It can be surprising that judges forgot about their professional duties, honour and morality and performed this order.

Thought my fate was touched, I felt burning shame after pronouncing the verdict. It was shame for judge Chatvyartkova, who disgraced Belarus by her judgement to innocent people. All trials held over peaceful participants of the December 19 demonstration showed the whole world the depth of professional and moral degradation of Belarusian judges. The Belarusian judicial system cannot be called other than feudal. Judges Khrypach, Kamarouskaya, Zaitsava, who considered my cassation appeal, continued this disgraceful practice.

Only lawyers, who in spite of intimidation, pressure and disbarment do not fear to participate in political processes, save the honour of the profession and the honour of Belarus. They demonstrate that we still have lawyers, not servants of the regime.

All citizens of Belarus and even investigators, prosecutors and judges involved in criminal activity must be thankful to these lawyers not only for their courage, but also because they observe the law and keep people’s hope for justice in these incredibly difficult conditions.

I’d like to thank my lawyers, Andrei Varvashevich and Maryna Kavaleuskaya, for their brilliant professionalism and arguments for my defence. If law were observed in our country, their arguments would have left no doubts that I am innocent.

The verdict to me cannot stand up to criticism from the point of view of Belarus’s legislation. It is a gross violation of international norms Belarus is obliged to observe. The principle of primacy of international law was flouted in the most impudent way. I’d like to emphasize again: I am ashamed for the investigators, prosecutors and judges who disgrace our country. I am ashamed for the fact that the highest international respect, Belarus had in the early 1990s, is being ruined systematically by the criminal authorities and its servile judicial system.

The current events in Belarus cannot be called other than atrocity in relation to peaceful citizens. Having deprived people of the right to elect, Lukashenka puts Belarus deeper in the abyss of crisis, mocks children, the youth and the old. The international community is fair to severely criticize the authorities’ repressive actions in the recent months. In my opinion, the events in Belarus need more suitable evaluations. One must admit directly that the country in the centre of the European continent has the regime imposing threat to people’s life. The international community should base on this fact in its relations with the acting authorities.

The overwhelming majority of Belarusian population understands today that it is impossible to continue a life like this. I am sincerely thankful to and proud of those who struggle for their honour and dignity, for their rights and freedoms. Their number is growing despite the atrocity of the authorities.

I applaud you.”