A/HRC/20/8 participation in mass disorder”.23 On 20 May, he was given a two-year suspended sentence. Other prominent opposition figures included in the case were former presidential candidate Vital Rymashеuski, sentenced to two years conditionally; Anastasiya Palazhanka, a staffer for Mr Rymashеuski, sentenced under article 342.1 of the Criminal Code to one year conditionally; and Mr Niakliayeu‟s pre-election staff, Andrei Dzmitryeu, Aliaksandr Fiaduta and Siarhei Vazniak, also given a suspended sentenced under article 342.1 of two years.24 42. On 4 May 2011, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted opinion No. 13/2011, in which it declared the detention of Mr. Statkevich arbitrary under categories II and III, and that it was in breach of article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 43. On 14 May, another presidential candidate, former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and co-funder of Charter 97, Andrei Sannikau, was sentenced to five years in a high security prison, charged for “leading a crowd that committed excesses” and found guilty of “organizing mass disturbances, accompanied by violence against the person, attacks and destruction of property”.25 Mr Sannikau stated that the demonstrations were peaceful. Four other co-defendants in the trial received sentences under article 293.2 (“participation in mass disorder”) of the Criminal Code: opposition activists Ilya Vasilevich, Uladzimir Yeremenka and Fiodar Mirzayanau were sentenced to three years, and Aleh Hnedchyk to three and a half years in a high-security prison.26 44. On 26 May, a district court in Minsk sentenced former presidential candidates Mikalai Statkevich and Dzmitry Uss to six and to five and a half years in a mediumsecurity prison. Other defendants in the case were sentenced to various prison terms: Aliaksandr Klaskouvski (five years), Artsiom Hrybkou (four years), Aliaksandr Kviatkevich and Dzmitry Bulanau (three years) and Andrei Pazniak (two years of “restricted freedom”).27 On 19 July, the Minsk City Court reviewed and upheld the prison sentences of Messrs Statkevich, Uss, Klaskouvski, Hrybkou, Kviatkevich, Bulanau and Pazniak.28 45. In addition to detentions, arrests, apartment searches and trials, many participants in the rally of 19 December experienced other forms of harassment and pressure. In particular, they were targeted by Government-controlled media criticism. President Lukashenka‟s rhetoric regarding the protests has been harsh, frequently referring to the political opposition as a “fifth column” that aims at destroying Belarus. D. Prison conditions, torture and ill-treatment 46. Numerous reports indicate that prison conditions, especially in pretrial detention centres, do not meet relevant international standards. Detainees are allegedly kept in 23 29 25 26 27 28 12 Mr Niakliayeu‟s charges were later re-qualified as “instigating violation of public order” (Criminal Code, art. 342). Viasna Human Rights Center, “More verdicts in 19 December 2010 trials”, 20 May 2011. Shaun Walker, “Belarus opposition candidate jailed for post-election protest”, Independent, 16 May 2011. Available from www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/belarus-opposition-candidatejailed-for-postelection-protest-2284756.html. Vesti.ru, 14 May 2011; see www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=452252&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter. Naviny, “Statkevich sentenced to six years, Uss to 5 ½ years”, 27 May 2011. Available from http://naviny.by/rubrics/english/2011/05/27/ic_articles_259_173781. BelaPAN, 19 July 2011; see http://belapan.com/archive/2011/07/19/485447/).