Lithuania to address Red Cross on Zmitser Bandarenka’s case

Emanuelis Zingeris, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of Lithuanian Seimas, has made a statement concerning the situation with political prisoner Zmitser Bandarenka.

“We express deep concern over “European Belarus” civil campaign coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka’s state of health, who had a serious operation on vertebral column yesterday. Since April this year he is serving the sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment for participation in a civil protest against rigged results of the presidential election. After such complicated operations a long period of rehabilitation is needed, as well as constant aftercare and consultations of independent professional doctors. However, according to our knowledge, this severely ill man who suffers from pain after the operation, is to be returned right in prison even without a rehabilitation course. He faces a threat of disablement in case due medical case and conditions for rehabilitation are not provided for him.

Actions of the governmental structures of Belarus against this well-known Belarusian activist not only constitute open threat to his health, but create atmosphere of constant fear and intimidation of political opponents in Belarus, so such actions are unjustifiable and unacceptable,” Emanuelis Zingeris said.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Seimas calls upon the authorities of Belarus to provide necessary medical care and rehabilitation for Zmitser Bandarenka.

“We are attentively following the developments in his case and the cases of illegally incarcerated political prisoners in Belarus and once again demand their immediate release.

We address the International Committee of the Red Cross, attracting their attention to one more case of extreme arbitrariness and contempt for human health and life in Belarus,” the Lithuanian politician stated.