Lidziya Autukhovich: “It seems like someone wants to accuse my son of all crimes”

Mother of political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich doesn’t receive all letters from her son and won’t be able to attend a trial over him due to problems with health.

Autukhovich’s case will be considered in court “in the nearest time, in late January or early February,” Prosecutor General Ryhor Vasilevich said.

“The trial over Autukhovich will be open,” Vasilevich said. According to Interfax, he added that as far as he knew, “the court will start considering the case in the nearest time, in late January or early February”. The Prosecutor General said he hadn’t received any complaints at the course of the investigation.

“Salidarnast” reports that 70-year-old Lidziya Autukhovich, mother of the Vaukavysk entrepreneur, is desperate, but won’t be able to attend the trial due to health problems.

“I won’t be able to travel by bus as my health has deteriorated over a year. I will come if someone takes me by car,” she said.

According to Lidziya Autukhovich, she receives letter from her son regularly.

“What he is writing about? What ca he write? He says I shouldn’t worry, he is all right,” Lidziya Autukhovich said. “I do not get all his letters. I ask questions in my letters, but he doesn’t answer them.”

Lidziya Autukhovich received the latest letter on Christmas, January 7. Mikalai Autukhovich marked his 47th birthday on January 7.

“My son couldn’t have done anything godless. He has never done harm to anyone. It seems like someone wants to accuse him of all crimes,” Lidziya Autukhovich said.

We remind that businessmen from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained on February 8, 2009. 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”. Asipenka and Autukhovich were charged with preparation of a terroristic act on November 20. Lyavonau was released from Minsk remand prison on August 8. On September 24, he was cleared from all charges.

Human rights activists consider them political prisoners, turning attention to the fact that Autukhovich and Lyavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.

This year Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka and Yury Lyavonau were given the National Human Rights Award in the nomination “For Personal Courage”. The award was founded by Charter’97.