Mikhalevich Welcomes International Support, Urges UN response
- 10.03.2011, 16:48
Aliaksei Mikhalevich, a presidential candidate in Belarus’s 2010 elections, has welcomed international support for the opposition presidential candidates who have been imprisoned and charged for taking part in a pro-democracy rally.
Minister for Europe, David Lidington, has met with Aliaksei’s sister-in-law Elena Edwards and Irina Bogdanova, sister of oppositional presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov. In the meeting held last week, Mr. Lidington confirmed that he was willing to meet with leaders and representatives of the political opposition in Belarus.
“I welcome David Lidington’s willingness to meet with the Belarusian opposition,” Aliaksei said in a telephone conversation. “Unfortunately, I am under recognizance not to leave Minsk, and prominent Belarus opposition leaders are still in jail. We need to coordinate efforts for their immediate unconditional release.”
Private criminal and civil prosecutions agaisnt President Alexander Lukashenko are now being prepared in the UK by H20 Law LLP on behalf of Free Belarus Now.
Aliaksei supports all peaceful means of bringing attention to the situation in Belarus: “I am very grateful for help from H20 and the international community.” However, he added that more could be done to secure the release of political prisoners. “When will the United Nations Rapporteurs arrive in Belarus? There has been no UN reaction so far.”
Aliaksei was arrested after a pro-democracy rally on the 19th of December 2010 that was held in Independence Square in Minsk on the eve on the Presidential elections. He denies the charges against him: that he took part in mass disturbances under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code. If found guilty, he faces up to fifteen years in prison. All the opposition presidential candidates were arrested and imprisoned, all face charges, and two remain at the State Security Agency’s detention centre, known as “Amerikanka”.
After being held for two months by the State Security Agency (KGB) at Amerikanka, Aliaksei was given a conditional release on the understanding that he would become an informant. He agreed to this to secure his release, but as soon as he was free, spoke out about his treatment whilst being held prisoner. He says that he was subjected to various forms of torture and degrading treatment, such as being deprived of sleep and made to stand naked outside in freezing temperatures. The KGB has denied these allegations.
As a State Party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Belarus has an obligation to prevent and punish such acts committed by any government agent or official. Any act that inflicts physical or mental pain and suffering to obtain information or a confession would constitute a breach of the Convention. After the arrests in December 2010, the UK government called for Belarus to release all political prisoners. Mr. Lidington released a further statement last week, reiterating these demands and urging Belarus not to show “flagrant disregard for internationally accepted standards of justice”.
The minister expressed concern over Mikhalevich’s treatment in the Minsk detention centre and has issued a statement requesting an impartial and thorough investigation into all reports of torture.
For more information about Aliaksei Mikhalevich, please see the victims section of the Free Belarus Now website: http://www.freebelarusnow.org/en/victims-gallery.