Lawyer refused to defend Andrei Sannikov’s wife

It was the second lawyer who had to refuse to defend the well-known journalist Iryna Khalip.

As charter97.org was informed by the father of the wife of the presidential candidate in Belarus, Andrei Sannikov, Uladzimir Khalip, recently a contract with a lawyer Tamara Haraeva was singed for defence of Iryna Khalip. “This lawyer has good recommendations, she agreed to defend Iryna willingly. We settled a contract, we have put down the deposit money, and suddenly she calls us and flatly refuses to defend Iryna. Under the law, in case a contract is signed, the lawyer does not have aright to refuse services. However it has happened,” Uladzimir Khalip said.

The former lawyer of Iryna Khalip, Uladzimir Toustsik, underwent serious pressure, he was threatened that his license would be cancelled, Uladzimir Khalip said.

Thus, Andrei Sannikov’s wife, who has been placed under house arrest after release from the KGB jail, is left without a lawyer at the moment.

“You can imagine how they have been pressed. They are cornering us, for us to invite a state, Lukashist lawyer,” Uladzimir Khalip said.