Case of political prisoner Autukhovich taken to court

The criminal case of the businessman from Vaukavysk is to be submitted to the court soon. It has been stated by the deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus Viktar Konan.

“In the near future Autukhovich’s case is to be submitted to the court,” V. Konan stated. Answering of journalists about the nature of the charges against Autukhovich, the deputy Prosecutor General stated that they are “totally criminal”, denying any other comments on this case.

Human rights activists believe that the authorities plan to hold the trial over Mikalai Autukhovich and Uladzimir Asipenka behind the closed doors. “In this way they want to hide from the society, from Europe, new political prisoners which appear in Belarus,” stated a well-known lawyer Aleh Vouchak. Meanwhile, the human rights activist is convinced that investigation has no proofs of Autukhovich’s involvement in terrorism and other crimes, and “it will become clear to everyone at the open trial”.

As we have informed, Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained in Vaukavysk on February 8, 2009 and charged for participation in events which took place in 2005. 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”.

Mikalai Autukhovich was on hunger strike for three months, from April 16, 2009 to July 16, 2009. He demanded either to take the case to the court as soon as possible, or to change the measure of restraint for all persons involved in the case from imprisonment to a written undertaking not to leave the place.

Lyavonau was released from Minsk remand prison on August 8. On September 24 he was cleared from al charged. Autukhovich and Asipenka are still kept in the remand prison Number 1 in Minsk.

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