Bandarenka: Sannikov had a choice either to go to jail again or do nothing

Former political prisoner Zmitser Bandarenka welcomes Andrei Sannikov's decision to apply for political asylum.

Zmitser Bandarenka, a coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign, decided to stay in Poland yet in early September.

Nasha Niva newspaper asked Zmitser Bandarenka to comment on the situation of former political prisoner and presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.

“I think it is a wise decision. Andrei had a choice either to return to prison or do nothing. Sannikov has been and remains one of the opposition leaders. He is alive and able to work,” the former political prisoner said.

Did Sannikov ask Bandarenka's advice before taking his decision?

“I am in Warsaw, Andrei is in the UK. We haven't seen each other for some months, but we discussed different questions, including this one, on the phone,” Zmitser Bandarenka said.

“Andrei's family is still held hostages,” Bandarenka says. “I think this decision of Sannikov will help him to reunite with Iryna and Danik as soon as possible.”

Andrei Sannikov applied for political asylum in the UK. The leader of European Belarus civil campaign, former presidential candidate and political prisoner said about the possibility of another arrest. “It was not an easy decision for me. But believe me I did not have any other choice. Either to go under tortures and humiliation in prison again, or to sit there silently meek and mild. I have been and remain a Belarusian politician. I will keep communicating  the truth about my country and seek for concrete measures to be taken to help democratic Belarus. I believe that my decision will help release my wife and son, who are hostages of the Lukashenka regime,” Andrei Sannikov said in an interview with charter97.org.