Posters “Freedom for Political Prisoners!” in Minsk (Photo)

Minsk dwellers were reminded about political prisoners in Belarusian jails.

Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” hung out posters “Freedom for Political Prisoners!” on the bridge above Zhukov and Dzerzhinsky Avenue and near the entry to the city from Brest direction.

“Lukashenka and official mass media say there are no political prisoners in the country, but many drivers honked in support as they saw the posters. It sounded far more convincing than the lies from TV and newspapers,” a participant of the action told in an interview to website “European Belarus”.

We remind that entrepreneurs Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained in Vaukavysk on February 8. On February 18, the entrepreneurs were charged under article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional damage to or destruction of property of citizens). On June 23, a criminal case under article 359 of the Criminal Code (a terroristic act) in the form of preparation (article 13) was instigated against Autukhovich and “other persons”, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.

Human rights activists consider the detained to be political prisoners drawing attention to the fact that Autukhovich and Lyavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.

Vaukavysk entrepreneur Yury Lyavonau was released from Minsk remand prison on August 8. The criminal case against him was stopped.

On July 7, 2009, “Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski was sentenced to a year of imprisonment in minimum security penal colony for violation of the rules of serving punishment in the Case of 14. In 2009, Amnesty International recognized the participants of the Process of 14 Prisoners of Conscience.