Struggle to go on

Oppositional activists will not stop hunger strike of solidarity with Mikalay Autukhovich. The life of the prisoner of conscience who continues hunger strike for about a month is menaced.

It has been stated by the deputy chairperson of the Young Front Nasta Palazhanka at a press-conference of participants of the hunger strike of solidarity with political prisoner Mikalay Autukhovich held today in the Minsk headquarters of the Belarusian Popular Front party. Other participants of the press-conference were the press-secretary of the Young Front Tatsyana Shaputska, a Minsk coordinator of the organisation Mikola Dzemidznka, a former political prisoner and person involved in the Process of Fourteen Artsyom Dubski, an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Iryna Hubskaya and others.

32 persons have taken part in the hunger strike of solidarity over the last 10 days. At the moment there are 30 participants of the protest, as Andrus Tsyanyuta and Hleb Snorkin were to stop the hunger strike because of their health deterioration. 11 participants continue the hunger strike from the very start, May 4. That means, the number of participants of the action has almost tripled, noted the spokesperson of the Young Front Tatsyana Shaputska.

As said by the deputy chairman of the Young Front Nasta Palazhanka, the aim of the hunger strike of solidarity is to support political prisoners, especially Mikalay Autukhovich, who started the hunger strike on April 16 and now is dying in prison.

“The question which interests journalists most is about the aims of the hunger strike and whether we find it effective. That is why I would like to explain that the purpose of the hunger strike of the Young Front is to support the man who is dying in prison. I would like to underline now when people are concerned about our state of health, or the purpose of the hunger strike, that we do not want to show ourselves as some kind of heroes. We want to call everyone to civil solidarity with those who are persecutes for truth. Undoubtedly, there are many different ways of that. Solidarity could be demonstrated in any other ways. But as there is a concrete person whose life is in the balance is at the moment, we have decided to support him in the form of a hunger strike,” Nasta Palazhanka said.

The central objective of the hunger strike is to make Belarusian authorities comply with demands of the protesters and release political prisoners.

“The central objective of the hunger strike is to fulfil our demands. We certainly try to estimate how realistic fulfilment of these demands by the Belarusian government. If some changes are taking place in the country now, they are merely cosmetic. We do not have any illusions about that, but we will try to stick to principle, as Mikalay Autukhovich needs support,” added the deputy chairman of the Young Front.

The spokesperson of the organisation Tatsyana Shaputska explained that the former political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin who has supported the hunger strike of solidarity in the form of relay hunger strike, and also brought up the issue of the hunger strike at the “Eastern Partnership” summit in Prague and at all meetings with representatives of the international community and ambassadors of Western countries.

All participants of the hunger strike of solidarity will take part in the march “For Independence!” which would be held on May 14 at 6 p.m. on October Square, told the Minsk coordinator of the Young Front Mikola Dzemidzenka.

“The march will happen rain or shine, and no matter what actions of the law-enforcing agencies would be. Now actions of the authorities endanger the most important and precious and valuable thing we have, our independence. That is why we believe that for today and in today’s conditions the rally is very needed by Belarus. And we hope that holding such a march would become a tradition, as Belarusian authorities demonstrate for many years that independence of the country is nothing,” told Minsk coordinator of the Young Front.

The work on holding this march carried out for a month, and it has been supported by international organisations in such countries as the Great Britain, Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania.

“On May 14 and 16 rallies of solidarity will be held in these countries: picketing of Belarusian embassies with a demand to release political prisoners and support the hunger strike of solidarity of the Young Front; to bring up the issue of the Belarusian independence. May 14 has been chosen for a reason. On May 14, 1995 the first referendum was held. An attempt to betray our independence was made then: the state language and state symbols of Belarus were changed. That is why on May 14 our partners in other countries will hold solidarity actions, and we will go to the Square and carry out our march,” Mikola Dzemidzenka said.

Activists of the Young Front have also noted that during the hunger strike they have been supported by prominent personalities and common citizens.

“During the hunger strike we are visited by many people, that is why most of the time we talk to them, explain the goal of the hunger strike. Many people which come to the headquarters of the Belarusian Popular Front or see our posters in the windows, come in and ask what is going on there, and what is the reason.

Besides, many public leaders visit us. Recently a musician Zmitser Vajtsyushkevich organized a concert here to support us and give us encouragement. A writer Uladzimir Arlou visited us too. Earlier we read mostly the Bible, and now we also read books by Arlou,” Nasta Palazhanka said.

The girl has also noted that participants of the hunger strike haven’t talked to relatives of Mikalay Autukhovich so far, but the family of the political prisoner knows about the action of solidarity of the young people.

“They are greatly impressed by the fact that such a campaign of solidarity with political prisoners is held, and in general they are amazed that this issue has received such a wide publicity,” underlined N. Palazhanka.

As we have informed, on May 4, a number of political and public figures of Belarus went on indefinite hunger strike to support detained entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk, kept in pre-trial detention center #1 in Minsk.

Among the participants of the strike are former political prisoners Andrei Kim, Mikalai Statkevich, Syarhei Skrabets, Artsyom Dubski, Enira Branitskaya, leader of the coordinative council of entrepreneurs Alyaksandr Makaeu, “Young Front” activists Anastasiya Palazhanka, Mikola Dzyamidzenka, Kasya Salauyova, Yaraslau Hryshchenya, Artsyom Lastavetski, Darya Latushkina, public activist from Brest Natallya Latushkina, and others.

The participants of the hunger strike demand to free the arrested leader of entrepreneurs Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka from charges, release them immediately, rehabilitate all political prisoners in the country, and stop political motivated persecuting of people.