English

Andrey Sannikaw set to return to Belarus, wife says

Andrey Sannikaw plans to return to Belarus after he completes his treatment course in Lithuania, Iryna Khalip, who is the former presidential candidate's wife, told BelaPAN.

According to Ms. Khalip, the decision of Dzmitry Bandarenka, a former campaign aide to Mr. Sannikaw, not to return from Poland came to her as a complete surprise.

Mr. Bandarenka announced on Sunday that he would not return to Belarus because there was "a real threat" of him being arrested again.

Ms. Khalip said that her husband was not planning to stay in Lithuania. She refused to say when he would return.

"The probation officers who visit me after 10 p.m. have been asking the same question lately, 'Where is Sannikaw and when will he return?'" she said. "I've told them that they won't get any information from me, so they whine and say, 'We don't care, but our colleagues in the KGB are putting pressure on us.' I won't answer the KGB's questions through fellow journalists either."

Andrey Sannikaw, Andrey Bandarenka and Iryna Khalip were arrested in the wake of a post-election street protest staged in Minsk on the night of December 19, 2010 and subsequently convicted in a so-called riot case. Messrs. Sannikaw and Bandarenka were sentenced to five and two years in prison, respectively, while Ms. Khalip was given a suspended two-year prison term.

Messrs. Sannikaw and Bandarenka were released from prison on April 14, 2012, respectively, after being pardoned by Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Mr. Sannikaw left Belarus in early June and Mr. Bandarenka has been staying in Poland since July.