Statkevich's letters from prison sent to prosecutor's office

Mikalai Statkevich has faced new problems with correspondence.

Politician's wife Maryna Adamovich told statkevich.org that they had had problems with letters before. Mikalai Statkevich's letters didn't pass censorship, letters to him “disappeared” or he received empty envelopes.

“His latest letter surprised me,” Maryna says. “Mikalai writes that his previous letters were seized and sent to the regional prosecutor's office as evidence on the situation in the Shklou correctional colony.

I wonder what it could mean. Either the prison authorities fear that information about correctional facilities can leak outside prison, or they decided to be proactive and inform about the revealed violations. If the second is true, they could have used the copy of the letter. I tend to think the first guess is more probable,” Maryna Adamovich said.

The woman doesn't know what was written in the letter but says Mikalai Statkevich had things to tell.

“I remember well what had been going on there two years ago, after Lukashenk'as visit to Shklou. Political prisoners were proposed to apply for a pardon. They faced strong pressure. I think Mikalai had things to write about. I hope the situation will not be hushed up even if they seize ten more letters.”

Mikalai Statkevich was a candidate in the 2010 presidential election. He was arrested after a protest rally against the rigged election results.

On May 26, 2011, the politician was sentenced to 6 years in a medium security correctional colony by Minsk's Partyzanski district court.

On January 12, 2012, confinement conditions for him were strengthened. He was transferred from penal colony No. 17 in Shklou to prison No. 4 in Mahilou.

Statkevich is often thrown into a punishment cell. He has restrictions relating to parcels and visits of relatives. He often faces provocations on the order of the authorities.