Cichanoŭskaja urges officials to show Babaryka to people

April 29, BPN. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has called on officials to show imprisoned politician Viktar Babaryka to the public.

“You should understand that Łukašenka will be saving himself if the situation changes in any way. When the time comes to be held accountable, he will dump everyone around him,” she said in a YouTube address on April 28.

“Only you can help yourselves. Start doing it now,” she said.

“There are those among you who can help Viktar Babaryka on the ground. Show us his current condition. Promote the admission of lawyers and relatives to political prisoners,” Cichanoŭskaja added.

Babaryka, a former presidential hopeful, was transferred from a penal colony to a civilian hospital in Navapołack, Viciebsk region, on April 25, reports say. Medics were supposedly draining fluid from his lungs before yesterday’s announcement from his team that “his whereabouts and condition are unknown.”

According to Cichanoŭskaja, the banker-turned-politician was reportedly admitted to hospital with signs of beating, and “hospital staff couldn’t even recognize him until they saw his papers.”