Zmitser Bandarenka, a coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign and Andrey Sannikau’s election agent, was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment in a minimum security penal colony for «actions that seriously disrupt civil order» during the protest action after the presidential elections on December, 19, 2010.
During his detention in KGB arrest, Bandarenka started suffering from spine problems which forced him to undergo a surgery. Physicians warned that should the rehabilitation be neglected, he might become permanently handicapped. Nevertheless, in January, 2012 the penal colony administration made his conditions of confinement more severe having inhibited him from using a crutch, wearing orthopedic shoes, etc.
In November, 2011 Zmitser Bandarenka, after having served one third of his sentence had a chance for an earlier release, but the prison administration decided his behaviour had not improved and the punishment should continue. On February 1, 2012 the political prisoner filed a petition for mercy addressed to Aliaksandr Lukashenka. In December, 2011 the latter promised to release the political prisoners if they pleaded pardon. But the Belarusian president has still had no respect for his own word.
Zmitser Bandarenka was arrested on December 20, 2010 and later sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment for «actions that seriously disrupt civil order». At the current moment he is kept in penal colony №15 in Mahiliou.
