Andrei Klimau’s health causes concern
- 22.12.2007, 9:11
Health of political prisoner Andrei Klimau still causes concern. His wife Tatsyana Leanovich-Klimava said it on the National Human Rights Award ceremony in Minsk on 21 December.
She had a long-term meeting with her husband in Mozyr penal colony №20 (Gomel Area). His hemoglobin level fell. He is very thin, like a 12-year-old boy. I brought medicines with me medicines, he takes them. The colony is situated practically in the zone of alienation. It is situated 30 kilometres from Naroulya, and Naroulya was in the zone of alienation. There evidently is radiation background, otherwise I can’t explain his sharp drop of hemoglobin level. It occurs very seldom with men. Having read works by professor Bandazheuski, I learnt that it is a first sign of irradiation,” T. Leanovich-Klimava said.
“Mozyr oil processing plant is near the colony. The landscape is surreal – lucent argentine reservoirs, flare stacks... It is situated 1.5 kilometres form the colony. The ecological situation is awful,” T. Leanovich-Klimava shared her impressions.
“All prisoners look like shadows. Prisoners work on hazardous industry – copper plant. I received a letter form Andrei on 18 December. He writes he was sent to work at copper plant, hazardous industry. I thought for a long time and wrote a complaint to the department of Corrections at the Ministry of Internal Affairs that Andrei’s health doesn’t allow him to work at hazardous industry. I have passed it to the ministry today. They gave a ring to the colony at my presence and the administration said they would transfer Andrei to woodwork. We’ll see what kind of job he will have there,” Klimau’s wife said.
According to her, prisoners treat A. Klimau decently. “The case is that they all were sentenced to long terms, and have to establish good relationship with one another, because they will spent together not one day. It’s like army, even hazing can be seen. The brigade is huge – 200 on a floor. They were already convicted for several times, moreover, for grave offences,” T. Leanovich-Klimava said.
“The colony has a very bad reputation. There are rumours the administration doesn’t loosen up. Nevertheless, there is a picture of the prison chief on the board of honour in the department of corrections,” T. Leanovich-Klimava noted.
It should be reminded that Andrei Klimau was arrested for articles on the Internet on 3 April, 2007. The criminal case on the article 361 of the Criminal Code (appeals via the mass media to overthrow or forcibly change the constitutional regime) was brought against the politician. A. Klimau was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment on 1 August.