Political prisoner Autukhovich forbidden private correspondence
2- 21.09.2009, 14:35
Friends of the arrested entrepreneur from Vaukavysk say they don’t receive his letters from the detention facility.
Vaukavysk entrepreneur Mikalai Autukhovich and former military man Uladzimir Asipenka have been in the Minsk detention facility for more than seven months. As Radio Svaboda reminds, Autukhovich and Asipenka are accused of arson of a militiaman’s house. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mikalai Autukhovich is also suspected of preparation of a terroristic act.
Neither Mikalai Autukhovich nor Uladzimir Asipenka admits guilt. Afghan War veteran Autukhovich went on 90-day protest hunger strike in the detention center and lost 30 kilograms of weight. After a month after the hungry strike the Vaukavysk entrepreneur didn’t restore his weight and looked very tired and thin, the layer said.
Mikalai Autukhovich’s friends worry not receiving letters from him.
“The lawyer told me Mikalai had problems with correspondence,” human rights activists and Afghan War veteran Aleh Viuchak says. “He doesn’t receive all letters and people don’t receive all letters he sends. He sent me some letters, but I haven’t them. What concerns his case, as far as I know, there have been no changes.”
Entrepreneurs Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained in Vaukavysk on February 8. On February 18, the entrepreneurs were charged under article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional damage to or destruction of property of citizens). On June 23, a criminal case under article 359 of the Criminal Code (a terroristic act) in the form of preparation (article 13) was instigated against Autukhovich and “other persons”, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.
Human rights activists consider the detained 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.
Lyavonau was released from the pre-trial detention office in Minsk on his own recognition on August 8. All investigating activities against him were stopped.
