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Statkevich to be moved to cell-type prison

A judge on Thursday ordered convicted former presidential candidate Mikalay Statkevich transferred to a cell-type correctional institution for three years.

In a trial that took place in Correctional Institution No. 17 in Shklow, Mahilyow region, Judge Vital Volkaw found the 55-year-old opposition politician guilty of violating prison rules and ruled that he must be moved from the facility to a higher-security prison.

As Maryna Adamovich, wife of Mr. Statkevich, told BelaPAN with reference to his lawyer, the politician appeared healthy and composed during the hearing.

Ms. Adamovich described the ruling as predetermined and expected.

The charge was brought against Mr. Statkevich because of his missing number tag and failure to mention handkerchiefs among his personal items.

According to Ms. Adamovich, authorities are ready to use any pretext to take revenge on her husband for a letter recently smuggled out of his prison and his refusal to appeal to Alyaksandr Lukashenka for a presidential pardon.

In December 2011, the administration of the Shklow prison said Mr. Statkevich "has not stepped on the path of reformation," "does not seek release on parole" and "intends to continue life of crime" upon his release. It declared the politician a "persistent violator of prison rules."

In May 2011, a district judge in Minsk sentenced Mr. Statkevich to six years in a medium-security prison, finding him guilty of organizing "mass disorder" in connection with the December 19, 2010 post-election protest.