Mikola Statkevich and Paval Sevyarynets Released

Belarusian political prisoners Mikola Statkevich and Paval Sevyarynets have been granted early release. The term of imprisonment of the politicians who had been sentenced to corrective labour, was to expire this summer. The first to meet Mikola Statkevich were the Charter’97 coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka and the leader of the youth center “Volat” Zmitser Barodka.

Sevyarynets was released with a statement: “for good conduct”, while Statkevich “for absence of violation of discipline for 22 months”. In an interview to the Charter’97 press-center the both politicians said that they had been released because Belarus faces increase of sanctions of the West, including the EU trade preferences annulment because of human rights violations. Release of political prisoners was a categorical condition of the world community.

“I haven’t repented certainly. I have nothing to ask forgiveness for from this regime. As far as I understand, there was an order to release us. Most likely it is connected with vote on annulment of preferences which is to take place in the near future. That is why my release hasn’t been politically predetermined and have no connection with due process of law,” Paval Sevyarynets said.

“The trial finished quickly. I was told that I am released for absence of violation of discipline. I am not satisfied with such trend of affairs. In two months the term of my sentence was to finish. Besides, following the rules of early conditional release, I should have been released long ago. By the way, the judge was surprised as well, that I am recommended for release only now,” Mikola Statkevich said to the Charter’97 press-center.

In the near future the politician is set to hold a press-conference. It is known that Paval Sevyarynets is to tell about his plans in detail tomorrow, at 11 a.m. in the Belarusian Popular Front headquarters.

The leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Narodnaya Hramada) Mikola Statkevich and a young leader Paval Sevyarynets were sentenced to two years of restriction of freedom for organizing protest actions against rigged up election results which allowed Lukashenka to ballot for presidency for unlimited number of times.