Human rights activists demand urgent medical aid to Autukhovich

The FIDH and Viasna human rights center have known about an indefinite hunger strike of political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich caused by a refusal to render medical aid to him.

As a result of a long (more than a year) term of imprisonment in the conditions extremely unfavourable for health, Mikalai Autkhovich has lost most of his teeth and as a consequence of this an opportunity of normal food acceptance. In spite of repeated appeals of the political prisoner to the detention facility’s administration and the Corrections Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, he is systematically denied of necessary medical aid. The detention facility’s administration blocks Mikalai Autukhovich’s appeals to the Corrections Department.

On May 16, the Supreme Court of Belarus sentenced businessman Mikalai Autukhovich to five years of imprisonment on an accusation of possessing weapons and ammunition. Initially, Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladizmir Asipenka, Mikhail Kazlou, and Alyaksandr Laryn were charged with a number of grave offences, including preparation of a terrorist attack, but were dismissed most of the charges at an open trial. The case was given much public attention and was closely watched by human rights activists. According to the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and Viasna human rights center, significant violations of procedural having guarantees clear political motivation were recorded in the course of investigation of the case.

The FIDH and Viasna human rights center regard the refusal of the Belarusian authorities to give necessary medical aid to inmate Mikalai Autukhovich as inhuman and cruel treatment, which violate article 225 of the Constitution of Belarus and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The FIDH and Viasna human rights center urge the authorities of Belarus to immediately stop violating the rights of prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich and provide necessary medical aid to him.