Arrested leaders of entrepreneurs transferred to remand prison

The term of imprisonment of Mikalay Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka has been extended for 7 days. Political prisoners have been transferred from the detention centre in Akrestsin Street to the remand prison in Valadarski Street.

It has been reported by a human rights activist Aleh Vouchak to the Charter’97 press-centre. As said by him, today lawyers failed to meet with their clients because of preparing document for transfer of prisoners to the remand prison.

“One thing could be said unambiguously, that incarceration conditions in the remand prison in Valadarski Street are harsher than in Akrestsin Street. It concerns internal regulations, different limitations. Moreover, it is much harder to be in Valadarski street detention centre psychologically,” Aleh Vouchak said to the Charter’97 press-centre.

The human rights activist has also found out that in the next 7 days investigators are set to confront the accusers. Some “witnesses” have emerged, and their names are still unknown.

Extension of the period under guard for the leaders of small businessmen’s movement is explained by Aleh Vouchak by the fact that the investigation simply has no proof of his guilt of the detained.

“I think they have no proofs and evidence of crime. Now a propaganda campaign has started on Belarusian TV for smearing Autukhovich, Lyavonau and Asipenka. Small businessmen from Vaukavysk are charged with heavens knows what, while workers of the Belarusian TV are afraid to tell their names. I think it is a political action of intimidation of democratic activists, who hadn’t admitted defeat, who remain reputable for people. The arrest of businessmen’s leaders has thrown the Belarusian authorities for half a year ago in their negotiations in the European Union,” Aleh Vouchak stated.

As we have informed, on February 8 Almaz special police force and policemen of the operational group on organized crime arrested leaders of entrepreneurs Mikalay Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka. After searches in their apartments, entrepreneurs were taken to Minsk to Akrestsin Street detention centre. They are charged with arson of a policeman’s house 5 years ago.

Mikalay Autukhovich and Yury Lyavonau are former political prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for far-fetched accusation for defense of rights of entrepreneurs. In the beginning of 2008 the measure of restraint was changed for him for restriction of freedom.