Today is Solidarity Day. Political prisoner Autukhovich on hunger strike for two months
9- 16.06.2009, 10:17
The authorities don’t react to a hunger strike held by the arrested entrepreneur, though he has lost at least 30 kilograms of weight.
Mikalai Autukhovich has been on hunger strike in prison since April 16 demanding a trial or stopping criminal prosecution against him and other entrepreneurs Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka. Lawyer Pavel Sapelka visited the political prisoner on June 9 last time, when the he and Mikalai Autukhovich took part in investigative experiment. It is unknown who was the second person of the confrontation. This information is considered to be secrecy of investigation.
The lawyer told the Charter’97 press center about condition of Mikalai Autukhovich on the 62nd day of hunger strike: “He can walk, but looks tired and week.”
The lawyer plans to meet Mikalai Autukhovich in the nearest time but doesn’t know when it may happen. Sapelka didn’t say he planned just to visit his client or take part in investigative actions. According to him, the political prisoners is still in the medical unit if the detention facility. The striker has serious problems with health – his pancreatitis and other chronic diseases aggravated.
Lat week, Pavel Sapelka made a complaint to the prosecutor’s office of Belarus against actions of investigator of Mikalai Autukhovich’s case Vitaly Kukharonak. The lawyer refused to say the details of the complaint referring to the secrecy of investigation.
Pickets demanding to release political prisoners will be held in Belarus.
The traditional Solidarity Day is marked today in Belarus. Every 16th of a month pickets demanding the Belarusian authorities to stop repressions against the opposition and release prisoners of conscience are organized in Belarus and throughout the world.
Leaders of entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were intentional destruction or damage to property of citizens). Human rights activists consider the detainees to be political prisoners drawing attention to the fact that Autukhovich and Lyavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.
Participants of the Process of 14, sentenced to restraint of liberty, Artsyom Dubski, Alyaksei Bondar, Mikhail Kryvau, Mikhail Pashkevich, Alyaksandr Straltsou, Alyaksandr Charnyshou, Tatsyana Tsishkevich, Mikhail Subach, Pavel Vinahradau, Maksim Dashuk, and Alyaksandr Barazenka, remain restricted in rights.
