Human rights activists: Autukhovich’s case is operation Insanity

Belarusian human rights activists observing the trial over Mikalai Autukhovich say the case is obvious.

Human rights activist Aleh Vochak attended the court almost every day.

“I am often asked in Belarus and abroad why the figure of Mikalai Autukhovich attracts such attention of the Belarusian authorities. It wasn’t a guerilla squad, as the court wanted to show, but a group of associates who investigated corruption in the region. They found corruption in an agency, where it should be found, the Ministry of Taxation. They learnt how the system earns. Local official got a part of money, higher officials received the rest sum,” Vouchak said.

The human rights activist says in 2003, a tax inspector told Autukhovich he had to pay money if he wanted to run business. Autukhovich refused and then faced problems.

Lawyer Alesya Murauyova turns attention to a number of inaccuracies and unclear things during the investigation. For example, how did Laryn plan to kill head of the Hrodna region executive committee Sauchanka from the territory of school, if he couldn’t see anything from that site. The footage showed it.

The investigators didn’t turn attention to Alyaksandr Laryn’s words, who said he had “killed and buried” his accomplice in the terrorist attack preparation. As if he hadn’t told that.

Murauyova finds a little funny an episode with a toy ship, bought by Autukhovich in Moscow for a children’s completion. It was said in the court he had used it to make an explosive device. According to Laryn, Autukhovich wanted to make an attempt on the life of deputy minister of taxation Vasily Kamenka with that ship.

Entrepreneur from Orsha Puzikau told the court investigator Klachko had presented him a bottle of vodka and ticket to Orsha after giving evidence.

“We saw strongest pressure on witnesses during the investigation,” Murauyova says.

Lyudmila Hraznova from Human Rights Alliance says Autukhovich, Asipenka, and Kazlou are “heroes of the time”. “They were decent, honest, and logical at the trial. They don’t look depressed or unhappy. Even after the prosecutor had announced his decision, they encouraged the people in the court room. Unfortunately, not all people are the same. Laryn is an object for psychoanalysts,” Hraznova says.

Alesya Murauyova doesn’t blame Laryn strongly. She says this person is a victim of the system as the other accused, we don’t know how he was pressed.

“Autukhovich was interrogated in connection with the arsons in 2005, but there were no proofs of his guilt. He was released from prison, but he didn’t calm down. So it was decided to finish him,” Enira Branitskaya from the human rights center Solidarity says.

“Autukhovich made a strong last statement. He spoke not about himself, but about interest of the people of Belarus. He is a man of the country. The whole process can be described by the words of Yury Lyavonau, who was repeating all the time: “Insanity,” Vyachaslau Siuchyk from Razam movement added.