Police terrorize families of political prisoners

Even those who moved away from the country after the release from prison cannot say they were left in peace.

As charter97.org website has learned from Lyudmila Mirzayanava, the mother of former political prisoner Fyodar Mirzayanau, police officers again tried to enter her home on the evening of June 20. They asked where Fyodar Mirzayanau was. Activist Fyodar Mirzayanau was sentenced to 4 years in prison for taking part in a rally against rigged presidential election results and “pardoned” 10 months later. He left Belarus for Poland to continue his education, because he was expelled from a Belarusian university after the December 19 events.

“They seem to watch me. I met with mothers of other political prisoners yesterday. Policemen came in the evening so that my neighbouras, who always sit on a bench near the house, could see them. The talked to me through a doorphone defiantly loudly asking to give information about my son. They create negative impression of me! I didn't open the door to them.  Finally, someone let them in the building and they began to knock at my flat door. I opened the door and policemen began to ask where my son was, though they know perfectly from their previous visits he studies in Poland. They asked where he would come home. I answered them and asked them to write it down 'When the regime will collapse'.  The policemen went away only after journalists began to phone me.

Punishment for dissent in Belarus, for participating in a protest rally on December 19, 2010 will last as long as Lukashenka will remain in power.  Families are also suffering. Life is rotten in Belarus. You can use this exact word – rotten.” Lyudmila Mirzayanova told charter97.org website.