Sannikov: Till the last moment I didn't believe they will release me - photo

Former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov on March 14 was released from prison in Novopolotsk.

According to the Charter 97 web-site now the politician is on his way to Minsk.

Andrei Sannikov was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in strict regime on charges of riots on December 19, 2010.

"Till the last moment I didn't believe they will release me. I was transferred from one prison to another so many times, so I thought it is the next transfer. Now I'm a bit overwhelmed, I should recover myself. I want to convey my gratitude to everyone for their support and solidarity. Such a support and solidarity I've never experienced previously in my life. Thank you very much! If not you, I would not be free today. Because everything was done, in a way I've never got out of jail", Andrei Sannikov told Charter-97 web-site.

We remind, on April 5, Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting on foreign policy issues, said he was going to pardon "soon" "the so-called political prisoners". He added that he intends to pardon only those who wrote an appeal for pardon. This was done by Andrei Sannikov and Dmitry Bondarenko.

It's unknown yet, if Bondarenko was released or not.