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Relatives of riot suspects launch campaign for their release

Relatives of former presidential candidates and other people held in the KGB's detention center over the December 19 post-election protest have launched a campaign called Vyzvalenne (Release).

"We've been left nearly alone and we should be together," said Volha Bandarenka, the wife of Dzmitry Bandarenka, an authorized representative of candidate Andrey Sannikaw. “We aren’t going to engage in political activities, but we’ll fight for the release of our loved ones. We know them better than others. We know how they lived and what they did. We know that they never intended a coup. They always declared that resistance would be non-violent. We believe that the criminal charges that have been brought against them are absolutely absurd.”

“How is it possible to hold the father and mother of a small child in prison?” said Alla Sannikaw, the mother of Andrey Sannikaw. “They should release at least the mother [Iryna Khalip], as the most important holiday for any child, New Year’s Eve, is coming up.”

“Today they break in and search our home and they will break into your home tomorrow,” said the father of Mr. Sannikaw’s wife, scriptwriter Uladzimir Khalip. “Those who staged this provocation aim to destroy their opponents. They will impose the severest possible penalties on them and then, when they are in prison, they will do with them all that they want.”

In a statement adopted on December 30, the campaigners urge Alyaksandr Lukashenka to ensure the release of all of his former presidential rivals and other people who have been or may be charged in the so-called mass riot case. The campaigners describe the detainees as Mr. Lukashenka's hostages.

The imposition of sanctions against the Belarusian government by the European Union, the United States and Russia would be a justified step, the statement says.

The campaigners suggest setting up a commission that would work under international supervision to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violent dispersal of the post-election protest.

An appeal will be sent to Pope Benedict XVI to pray for the political prisoners in Belarus and to come out in their support, Ms. Bandarenka said.