Statkevich sentenced to three years in prison

A former presidential candidate stood trial today in a penal colony in Shklou.

An initiative of the colony authorities to toughen confinement conditions for the former presidential candidate was heard at the trial. Colony authorities say Mikalai Statkevich does not mend his way and that’s why he should be transferred to a facility with stricter confinement conditions – a closed prison.

An official ground for accusing Statkevich was absence of a label with his number on his clothes and failure to include handkerchiefs in the list of his personal possessions, the wife of the politician said.

The real cause for toughening confinement conditions was principled position of Statkevich, who did not admit his guilt and does not want to apply to Lukashenka for a pardon.

We remind that last spring, the former presidential candidate was found guilty of organizing mass disorders and sentenced to 6-year imprisonment.

Mikalai Statkevich looked good during the trial and took the sentence bravely.

His wife, Maryna Adamovich, says the decision of the judge was unfair, but she expected it. The woman says she did not hope for a better decision. “Justice died long time ago in Belarus,” she said.

The trial was conducted by judge Volkau from Shklou.