Political prisoner Mikalay Autukhovich continues hunger strike in jail for 2 week
2- 29.04.2009, 9:30
Vaukavysk entrepreneur went on hunger strike in Minsk remand prison on April 16.
He demanded to take the case to the court or to change the measure of restraint for him and his colleagues Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka. The three were arrested on February 8 in Vaukavysk and taken to prison in Akrestsin Street, Radio Svaboda reminds. They are suspected of arson of an official’s property. The crime which they were accused of, had already been investigated, people guilty are serving punishment, the damage was paid for. Human rights activists believe that the detained are political prisoners, paying attention to the fact that earlier M. Autukhovich and Y. Lyavonau stood trial and were recognized prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International.
The former political prisoner Valery Levaneuski from Hrodna follows the developments in the case of Vaukavysk entrepreneur Mikalay Autukhovich to the extent possible.
“I think a hunger strike in prison is a courageous deed as such,” Valery Lyavonau says. “And considering his poor state of health, I think it is a step of desperation, as Autukhovich does not even understand what the reason of his imprisonement is. But to my mind, he has been imprisoned simply for intimidation of population, to stifle protest sentiments”.
Valery Levaneuski believes that without wide pubic support the situation of Mikalay Autukhovich would be very difficult.
“As for his hunger strike, unfortunately, it is inadequately covered by mass media,” the former political prisoner believes. “Personally I understand him perfectly well. It is very hard there where he is now. There are many malevolent persons there; there is a strong system of pressure there, especially in the remand prison”.
A human rights activist from Hrodna Syarhei Malchyk notes: earlier Mikalay Autukhovich demonstrated he is able to undergo a hunger strike.
“In this case a hunger strike could evoke response only when the community would support it, when there would be protests, when international organisations would support it. If this won’t take place, the hunger strike is a very serious threat to his life,” the human rights watchdog believes.
As said by the human rights activist Paval Sapelka, the state of health of Mikalay Autukhovich has deteriorated, and he stays in the medical unit of the remand prison.
