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United States condemns sentencing of former presidential candidate Sannikaw, four opposition activists

The United States has condemned the prison sentences imposed Saturday in Minsk on former presidential candidate Andrey Sannikaw and four opposition activists.

A district judge sentenced the 57-year-old Sannikaw to five years in prison, finding him guilty of “organizing mass disorder” in connection with a post-election protest staged in Minsk on December 19, 2010, BelaPAN said.

Aleh Hnedchyk was sentenced to three years and a half years in prison and Uladzimir Yaromenak, Ilya Vasilevich and Fyodar Mirzayanaw were given three-year prison sentences.
Mark Toner, acting deputy spokesman for the US Department of State, said in a statement Saturday that “the harsh sentences handed down on May 14 and the ongoing trials are clearly politically motivated.”

The United States considers the five former presidential candidates – Mr. Sannikaw, Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, Vital Rymashewski, Mikalay Statkevich and Dzmitry Uss – and other opposition activists, “who are being tried after being arrested as part of the crackdown related to the December 19 presidential elections, to be political prisoners," Mr. Toner said.

“Belarus should immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and cease continuing human rights violations against critics of the government, who remain at risk of harassment and arbitrary arrest,” Mr. Toner said. into account as the United States continues to review its relations with Belarus and consider further measures.”