Investigation in Autukhovich’s case extended for one more month

On December 8 the term of investigation in the case of Vaukavysk entrepreneurs expired.

The latest charge filed against the political prisoners is preparation to terrorist attack. Radio Racyja was told about the course of investigation by lawyer of Mikalai Autukhovich, Paval Sapelka.

“The investigation has been almost finished, but the term of keeping under arrest has been extended till January 8. It is extended to give an opportunity to get acquainted with the materials of the case,” the lawyer said.

As said by Sapelka, the accused and their lawyers have read in fact half of the materials of the criminal case. Until the materials are not studied, the case cannot be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office and then to the court.

Paval Sapelka has also informed that almost every day he visits his client, and informed about his health.

“In general, it is as before,” the lawyer of the political prisoner noted. “The only thing which causes concern is the issue of dental prosthesis which is not solved by anybody stubbornly. Autukhovich has serious problems with teeth. We write letters, but there are no results still”.

As charter97.org website informed, businessmen from Vaukavysk 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”.

Vaukavysk businessman Yury Lyavonau was released from Minsk remand prison on August 8. The case against him was closed on September 24.

Mikalai Autukhovich was on hunger strike from April 16 to July 16. 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.

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.