Ales Mikhalevich: Baumgertner is political prisoner

An open letter posted on the website of Nasha Niva newspaper was written together with Volha Karach, head of Our House organization, and Pavel Marosau, coordinator of the Third Way movement.

"We demand that Alyaksandr Lukashenka release Vladislav Baumgertner immediately (in the photo) together with all the other political prisoners, and people convicted on trumped-up charges. We want a legal state for everyone without any exceptions. We are urging the Russian civil society and Baumgertner’s relatives and colleagues to support our demands," the letter says.

Ales Mihalevich told Euroradio as follows:

"Evidently, Vladislav Baugertner is a political hostage. He has been jailed to be traded later. It reminds me of Belarusian political prisoners. We have made an open statement to demonstrate how different rights are being violated in Belarus. Any violations of human rights are a bad thing to us."

Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner was detained in Minsk after meeting Belarusian Prime Minister M Mihail Myasnikovich on Monday, August 26. The Uralkali head caused damage to Belarus' national interests, the Investigatory Committee said.  Baumgertner is charged with power abuse and is facing up to 10 years in prison and confiscation of property.  The losses incurred by the Belarusian Potash Company reached $100 million, the Investigation Committee said. Baumgertner is being held in a KGB prison. 

Photo: ITAR-TASS,  svaboda,org