Yury Khadyka: “Autukhovich’s hunger strike reached dangerous line”
5- 4.05.2009, 11:52
Political prisoner from Vaukavysk Mikalay Autukhovich continues indefinite hunger strike starting from April 16.
The leader of entrepreneurs was in the remand prison number 1 of Minsk since February this year. 13 years ago in the same remand prison the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Yury Khadyka was on hunger strike for 25 days.
He comments the term of the hunger strike of the entrepreneur who once was recognized prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.
“I was imprisoned in 1996 for alleged organizing mass events, though I and Henadz Karpenka did our best to avoid these riots,” Yury Khadyka recalls in the interview. “That is why, seeing blatant injustice, I declared a hunger strike. I mast say that Autukhovich is passing through a very dangerous stage now. After three weeks of my hunger strike blood pressure started to fall, and I was taken to the doctor all the time. Even a council of physicians was called.”
Yury Khadyka hopes that Mikalay keeps to all the rules for such a long hunger strike.
“I really hope that Autukhovich respects all the necessary rules for such a long hunger strike. At least 2 litres of water should be drunk daily. And not simply water, but hot water should be drunk. Besides, an enema should be given to clean out waste products. In general, it is more difficult to go through a hunger strike in a confinement than at large. I wish Mikalay Autukhovich courage and firmness in his hunger strike,” Yury Khadyka said.
As we have informed, Autukhovich’s state of heath deteriorated on April 29, and he was transferred to a medical unit of the remand prison. As the lawyer of the arrested entrepreneur Paval Sapelka said, “there is no response to this hunger strike from authorities, police, investigatory authorities, prosecutor’s office so far”. The lawyer wrote an application addressed to the administration of the remand prison asking a permission to bring spring water to Autukhovich, but the request wasn’t granted.
Earlier Autukhovich declared several hunger strikes in prison, including a dry one. The longest hunger strike of Autukhovich lasted for more than 70 days. In was in 2005.
