Bundestag member Marieluise Beck: Ihar Alinevich should be released immediately

Ihar Alinevich was sentenced to a prison term four years ago.

Marieluise Beck, Speaker on Eastern European Politics of the Green Party Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag and Prisoner’s Godparent for Ihar Alinevich, released a statement on the fourth anniversary of the conviction, Viasna human rights centre writes.

“Ihar Alinevich must be released immediately,” she said. “He has the right to a fair trial so that the charges against him can be proved impartially. We are very concerned about the fact that political prisoners in Belarus are being punished by additional repression in jail. Repeatedly several prisoners have had to endure solitary confinement, insufficient medical treatment and unacceptable conditions of imprisonment. The obvious intention is to force these political prisoners to apply for pardon and at the same time confess their guilt.”

Marieluise Beck recalled details of the arrest of the political prisoner.

“Ihar Alinevich was a member of a group calling themselves 'anarchists'. This group is linked to several political campaigns that have caused violent damage to property. The prosecution and sentence against Ihar Alinevich referred to such actions. Ihar Alinevich affirms that he was not involved in the said offences and in the meantime he has also distanced himself from that group. The trial against Ihar Alinevich was characterised by serious violations of constitutional principles. He was kidnapped by unknown persons during his exile in Moscow and was brought before the KGB in Belarus. During his interrogation he was abused mentally and physically. His extraordinarily draconian punishment of 8 years in prison indicates a politically motivated sentence.”

Anarchist activist Ihar Alinevich was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment for damaging official buildings. The political prisoner did not admit his guilt. He had served the sentence in Navapolatsk, in a correctional facility with extremely bad ecological conditions. It was closed at the beginning of 2014, and Alinevich was transferred to Vitsba 3 correctional facility.