Bundestag member calls to release Mikalai Statkevich

German MP Franz Thönnes urges to release the Belarusian political prisoner immediately and expresses solidarity with his family.

The Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag, Franz Thönnes, released a statement. He notes that he is a “godfather” of the Belarusian politician who was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. Besides Thönnes, other German and European politicians have this status to support Belarusian political prisoners and their families at the initiative of Libereco, a Swiss human rights group, Radio Svaboda reports.

The Bundestag member shares concerns of Belarusian human rights defenders over a difficult situation of Mikalai Statkevich, who was tried behind closed doors in early May and transferred from a correctional facility in Shklou to a stricter prison in Mahilou.

“This news caused great concern for me as the sponsor of Mikalai Statkevich, because due to this judgement, the Belarusian prison and justice system continues to exert excessive pressure on prisoners convicted for political reasons. Over and over again, justice in this country shows a total disregard for human rights and Mikalai Statkevich’s right to a fair trial. The administrative chicaneries as well as the ethical, psychological and physical abuses he has been and will be exposed to have to stop. But unfortunately following this decision, unfounded and arbitrary jurisdiction continues.

In the opinion of Germany and the European Union, such behavior is absolutely unacceptable and vociferously condemned. Release of all political prisoners in Belarus, their rehabilitation and the termination of political repression is required to normalize relations between the European Community of States and the Republic of Belarus. Unfortunately the court decision of early May has undermined this requirement,” Franz Thönnes notes.

The German politician calls to sign the petition on change.org. “President Lukashenka has to understand that the remaining six political prisoners are not forgotten,” he wrote in the statement.