Political Prisoner Record

Belarus

Andrei Sannikov: UN Working Group opinion and current status

UN Working Group on Arbitrary DetentionOpinion No. 14/2012, adopted 4 May 2012

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that "the deprivation of liberty of Andrei Sannikov was arbitrary", falling within categories II and III. As he had been released, it asked the Government to provide compensation and referred torture allegations to the Special Rapporteur on torture.1

Category IICategory III

Read the opinion

Government position

The Government replied on 17 April 2012. It said that Mr. Sannikov, in violation of the law, was one of the organisers of the protest.1

Background

According to the opinion, Mr. Sannikov was arrested on 19 December 2010 after a protest in Independence Square in Minsk, charged with organising mass disorder, and sentenced on 14 May 2011 to five years.1

Status now

Pardoned and released on 14 April 2012 by presidential decision, as recorded in the Working Group's opinion. Swissinfo reported in February 2023 that he lives in exile in Warsaw, and Novaya Gazeta Europe reported in February 2024 that he continues his work in exile.1,2,3

As of 5 February 2024.

Findings on this site are those of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an independent body of experts. Its opinions are not court judgments. Each record includes the government's position where it gave one.

Sources

  1. UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Opinion No. 14/2012 concerning Andrei Sannikov (Belarus), A/HRC/WGAD/2012/14 (4 May 2012)
  2. SWI swissinfo.ch, Belarus is not like Ukraine - and why that matters (20 February 2023)
  3. Novaya Gazeta Europe, Escaping the cage (5 February 2024)