Ales Bialiatski: Authorities practice Soviet punitive methods

In Belarus six political prisoners remain behind bars, the presidential ex-candidate Mikalai Statkevich is among them.

A number of democratic structures united around the initiative to nominate Statkevich at the current "elections". It should show the solidarity and draw attention to the problem of political prisoners. They are still being put pressure on, Radio Racyja reminds.

Recently it became known that the lawyer was denied to Mikalai Dziadok. He serves his punishment in colony No.9 in Horki. In March Mikalai had to be released, but he was given additional year in a high-security prison, human rights activist Ales Bialiatski recalls:

- Besides, they did it three days before the end of his term. He was given an additional year. It is a Soviet practice. Soviet dissidents suffered the same. Mikhail Kukobako told that when he had served his punishment he had had a week before the release, then another trial and additional three years. Now we have only one year, but it could be endless.

It should be reminded that Mikalai Dziadok has served 4.5 years in prison for alleged hooligan actions against official buildings and had to be released on March 3, 2015.