Yauhen Vaskovich: I felt strong support in prison

After release the former political prisoner met with human rights watchdogs.

During their conversation Yauhen told that the thing which was the most difficult for him during the incarceration period, was psychological pressure, Viasna human rights centre informs.

“Psychological pressure was the strongest one. Now the administration tries not to completely avoid such radical actions as beating or causing injury to health. They exert psychological pressure, create certain circumstances,” Yauhen Vaskovich said.

Numerous letters and postcards sent by public activists, human rights watchdogs and people concerned by his fate – that’s what helped the prisoner to survive all the difficulties.

“I was very happy to receive letters, postcards with congratulations. It was a real support, and I especially felt it as other prisoners envied me, as I was brought so many messages with congratulations on holidays. On usual days I also received many letters, unlike others, and it was especially noticeable in a cell system,” the former political prisoner observed.

We remind that the journalist and a member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Yauhen Vaskovich, who is also a member of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, was arrested on January 17, 2011. On May 18, 2011 he was convicted for an attempt of arson of the door of the KGB Branch in Babrujsk on October 17, 2010 for 7 years of imprisonment in a medium security correctional facility under Article 339 Part 2 (malicious hooliganism) and Article 218 Part 3 of the Criminal Code (damage to property on an especially large scale). By a decision of the court on October 12, 2011 the incarceration conditions were harshened for him. Vaskovich was transferred from the penal colony №15 in Mahilyou to the prison №4 in Mahilyou. On October 12, 2014 he was returned to the penal colony №15 in Mahilyou. On August 22, 2015 he was pardoned together with other political prisoners.