Tatsiana Novikava, an anti-nuclear campaign coordinator, has been released from Minsk predetention centre (“Akrestsina”) after five-day stay.
“The wards are overcrowded. One has to share a ward with vagrant alcoholics who soil themselves. I asked doctors to call an ambulance but their answer was that my illnesses (two oncological diseases and active hepatitis) did not prove to be an indication for hospital admission. Nonetheless, necessary medicines were delivered to me. I spent three days on a board-bed in a cold wet ward. I did not have a sleeping bag,” Novikava said.
Arrest on the way to the Russian Embassy
“Anti-nuke campaign activists’ detention points to the gravity of violations in the process of [Astravets – Belsat] nuclear power plant building, i.e. its construction pitch is being excavated without any project,” Novikava stated. The activist is about to continue her fight against power plant building but her methods of struggle have not jelled yet.
Tatsiana Novikava has already appealed her sentence. On July 18, 2012 the activist and Andrey Ozharovsky, a Russian citizen, were detained. They intended to deliver an open appeal against signing a general contract on nuclear power plant building to the Russian Embassy, but in vain. The action was arranged to coincide with Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Belarus.
“When I stood trial there were no witnesses and defence lawyer. A judge and a convoy were the only persons present in court. Referring to my health state I asked to call an ambulance but the judge read out a decision on the administrative arrest instead. The trial lasted for one minute,” the campaign activist said.
Appeal to the Russian Prime Minister
Here is what is stated in the open appeal, which activists managed to convey to information company BelaPAN:
“We consistently advocate for the preservation of denuclearized status of Belarus, against the decision to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant, adopted in an authoritarian way, without asking for public opinion and experts”.
According to the activists of the anti-nuclear campaign, “Belarusian NPP, as every other, represents a risk to todays and future generations: there is no 100% guaranty of that a disaster, equal to Fukusima or Chernobyl, won’t happen; regular emissions of radionuclides will lead to the growth of oncological diseases in the area of the NPP; the problem or radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuel, which will pose danger in the next hundreds and thousands of years, is not solved”.
Besides, is noted in the statement, “the project is economically unjustified, its realization will reduce energy security and increase the country’s dependence on foreign energy sources and technologies”.
“We were repeatedly notifying you of those violations that occur during the implementation of the project of Belarusian nuclear power plant. Namely: violations of national laws and international commitments of Aarhus and Espoo UNECE Conventions of Belarus, as well as technical standards,” – says the statement.
Belsat
