Oppositionists gather in Minsk center with portraits of political prisoners (Photo)
- 13.11.2009, 16:02
Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” held an action of support of Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka, and Artsyom Dubski in the center of Minsk.
The young oppositionists stood in a pedestrian subway in Independence Avenue holding portraits of political prisoners in their hands. They were handing out leaflets with information about prisoners of conscience. After the picket, the activists pasted portraits of Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka, and Artsyom Dubski to the wall in the subway.
We remind that a picket demanding to release political prisoners and stop repressions against opposition will be held on October square in Minsk at 6 p.m. on November 16. The pocket is initiated by the civil campaign “European Belarus”, “Young Front”, and “BPF Youth”.
“Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski, businessmen Mikalai Autukhovich and Uladzimir Asipenka are still in Belarusian prisons.
On July 7, 2009, Artsyom Dubski was sentenced to a year of imprisonment in a minimum security penal colony for violation of the rules of serving punishment in the Case of 14. Amnesty International recognized the participants of the Process of 14 Prisoners of Conscience in 2009.
Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained in Vaukavysk on February 8, 2009. 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”.
Lyavonau was released from Minsk remand prison on August 8. All charges against him were dismissed on September 24. Autukhovich and Asipenka are still in detention facility #1 in Minsk.
Human rights activists consider the detained political prisoners, turning attention to the fact that Autukhovich and Lyavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.
