Andrei Sannikov isolated even in colony

The presidential candidate will be sent to the most isolated division of the Navapolatsk penal colony.

Iryna Khalip, the wife of the political prisoner, learnt this from Maryna Tsitova, the wife of a prisoner of the Navapolatsk colony, who was a member of Andrei Sannikov’s initiative group. The woman has recently visited her husband in the colony.

“Maryna had a long meeting with her husband. She said the whole colony is excited and nervous because Sannikov is arriving there. Inmates are chaotically transferred to other divisions, colony administration visits Minsk to get instructions and makes urgent cosmetic repair. Prisoners say Sannikov will be sent to the most isolated 16th division. The colony consists of some local blocks. Each block has four divisions. But the 16th division is a separate building. It seems they want to isolate Andrei from other prisoners to prevent contacts and talks. It hardly makes any sense to isolate him. No agitation is needed there because prisoners hate the authorities. It is obvious that the administration gets instructions from Minsk,” Iryna Khalip told charter97.org.

According to the political prisoner’s wife, by such means the authorities want to isolate Andrei Sannikov from the external world.

“This is undisguised psychological pressure, an intention to limit his contacts. It is a very closed detention facility with no minimum easing. One can get 15 days in a punishment cell for an undone button. I do not exclude that fulfillment of rules will be brought to absurdity.

His contacts with the external world will be limited. They often deprive prisoners of meetings with relatives, forbade to phone, letters are strictly censored. When Alena Likhavid came to the colony to see her son, Mikita was in a punishment cell. The colony chief told her they were using soft methods. I fear to imagine what harsh methods they have,” Iryna Khalip said.