“Stif-Trans” company mechanic Viktar Makuts detained in case of Autukhovich, Lyavonau, and Asipenka

Viktar Makuts, “Stif-Trans” company mechanic, was detained on Monday in Vaukavysk and guarded to the prison in Akrestsin Street in Minsk.

As BelaPAN learnt from human rights activist Aleh Vouchak, in the morning on April 6, the house, a cellar, and a barn, owned by V. Makuts were searched by Yaraslau Kavetski, officer of the department on organized crime, and four officers of Alma special squad. Some hunt cartridges were found in the barn, A. Vouchak said. V. Makuts was detained.

“The firm “Stif-Trans” deals with cargo traffic, it rented the premises in the same place where Autukhovich worked,” A. Vouchak said. “Makuts was questioned in this case on February 8, on the day when Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained. Now law enforcement officers say Makuts suppressed something from investigators. He was detained for three days and guarded to Minsk. As far as we know, he is in the prison in Akrestsin Street.”

The human rights activist stressed that V. Makuts is 55, his mother is physically challenged, he has high kidney pressure. “He wasn’t allowed to take any medicines, but he can’t live without medicines,” A. Vouchak said.

It should be reminded that businessmen from Vaukavysk Y. Lyavonau, M. Autukhovich, and V. Asipenka were detained on February 8. Their detention and search was authorized by the prosecutor of the Hrodna region. On February 18, the three businessmen were charged under article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional destruction or damage to property of citizens). Human rights activists regard the detained as political prisoners turning attention that M. Autukhovich and Y. Lyavonau were already convicted and are recognized prisoners of conscience by the Amnesty International.