Andrei Sannikov was taken to the KGB, Irina Khalip is in the detention centre at Okrestina (Photo)

• 20.12.2010, 3:33

Candidate for presidency of Belarus Andrei Sannikov was beaten up by the riot police during a brutal suppression of the protest rally against rigging of election results.

Andrei Sannikov was beaten up by the riot police next to the government headquarters when he and tens of thousands of protesters stated that they do not recognize the results of the election and demanded negotiations with the authorities.

When Sannikov was placed into a car to be taken to the hospital, the car was blocked by special unit members. The candidate was beaten up again and taken into a different car. His wife Irina Khalip was dragged by force into another car. She was hit by her head against the car window.

The sources report that Irina Khalip, who has a 3-year old son waiting for her at home, is now in the detention centre at Okrestina, at night Sannikov was taken to the KGB.