Mikalai Statkevich marks birthday today

Political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich celebrates his 59th birthday.

This is the fifth birthday in a row that the former presidential candidate marks behind bars. Maryna Adamovich, the wife of Mikalai Statkevich, told charter97.org about confinement conditions for her husband, the importance of supporting prisoners of the regime and the solidarity campaign that was launched yesterday.

“Mikalai spent 3.5 years in a closed prison, in isolation and solitary confinement,” she said. “He needs support from outside, especially the support with love. I mean the campaign 'Sky for Statkevich” and beautiful sky and nature photos. He cannot see them now, but he will see them one time.

It is important for him and for me, and also for those holding him in prison. It gives the authorities a free hand when people don't speak about political prisoners. It is important for prisoners and their spirit to feel support, and it is also a signal for those who think prisoners' future is in their hands.

We shouldn't forget that Mikalai Dziadok is in a cell-type unit. Artsiom Prakapenka and Yury Rubtsou recently marked their birthdays behind bars, and Ihar Alinevich will celebrate his birthday soon. This campaign and solidarity are important for them, too.”

Maryna Adamovich calls the recent statement by Aliaksandr Lukashenka on a possible release of Mikalai Statkevich an attempt of trading ahead of the “elections”.

“I never discussed these words by Lukashenka and never took them to heart,” she says. “I will believe it only when Mikalai is released. The dictator again throws a bone, plays for time and tries to trade... This is disgusting and not worth discussing.

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Mikalai Statkevich was born in the village of Liadno (Slutsk district, Minsk region) on August 12, 1956. He graduated from Minsk Higher Engineering School of Anti-Aircraft Missile Defence. He defended a PhD thesis and worked for the higher school. He is a retired lieutenant colonel. He spoke against the coup in Moscow on August 20, 1991. He announced the formation of the Belarusian Association of Military Officers.

Mikalai Statkevich was a candidate in the 2010 presidential elections. He was arrested after a protest rally against the rigged results of the elections on December 19, 2010. More than 700 people, including presidential candidates Andrei Sannikov, Uladzimir Niakliayeu, Ales Mikhalevich and members of their teams, were arrested.

On May 26, 2011, Minsk's Pershamaiski district court sentenced the politician to 6 years in a medium security correctional facility. In 2012, confinement conditions for him were strengthened. He was transferred from correctional facility No. 17 in Shklou to prison No. 4 in Mahilou. Mikalai Statkevich returned to the correctional facility on January 12, 2105, but was soon transferred to the Mahilou prison.