Sannikov detained on border

A former political prisoner and presidential candidate was taken off a train from Minsk to Vilnius.

It was Andrei Sannikov's private visit to Vilnius. Among other things, he was going to visit a doctor. Customs officers ordered him to get off the train at Hudahai station on the Belarusian border.

The politician told charter97.org website he underwent a strip search.

“They carried out a customs examination under article 117 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union.  I was strip searched. It lasted for three hours. They were polite, but did not explain anything referring to instructions. Finally, they said I could leave the country, but the train had already departed,” Andrei Sannikov said.

The politician has to stay at Hudahai stationtill evening waiting for the next train.

Andrei Sannikov was a candidate for presidency in Belarus in the 2010 election. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison after protests against the rigged results of the presidential election. He remained in prison 16 months. He was tortured and ill-treated in prison. He was released on April 14, 2012.