Free Belarus Now’s statement on the treatment of Sergey Kavalenka

Free Belarus Now is disgusted by the extreme mistreatment of the political prisoner Sergey Kavalenka.

Sergey was convicted in May 2010 for hanging a traditional red and white Belarusian flag on a Christmas tree in his home town of Vitsebsk. The suspended sentence he received for this “crime” was extreme but last week Sergey was told he must spend the remaining 2 years 1month of his 3 year sentence in a penal colony because alleged minor violations of his probation conditions.

Sergey has been on hunger strike for months, he is in ill health and in serious danger. The Belarusian authorities are endangering his health even further by refusing to provide him with necessary medical treatment. We think that this neglect amounts to the torture of this young man.

Free Belarus Now is also shocked by the violent treatment Sergey’s family received in the courtroom where his trial was held last week. We are appalled that the police present felt it acceptable to physically assault the family of the political prisoner.

It is hard to believe that at the heart of 21st century Europe a young man is being allowed to starve to death whist imprisoned for simply hanging a flag, a symbol of his heritage.

Free Belarus Now demands that Sergey Kavalenka is immediately given the medical assistance he so urgently needs and released. We call for an end to the torture and continued imprisonment of all the political prisoners in Belarus.