Political prisoner Prakapenka denied meeting

Artsiom Prakapenka was denied of a long-term meeting with his parents.

The visit was scheduled for December. He wasn't allowed to tell his parents the reason for the ban in a telephone conversation with his mother Vialeta Prakapenka, Radio Racyja reports.

“I asked if a short-term visit in November was still allowed. He said the visit wouldn't be banned, because he had already been deprived of a short meeting. They do it gradually: they banned a food parcel last time and banned a long-term visit now. I asked how he would be punished. He answered he'd be placed in a punishment cell and a cell-type unit. He holds on. He has never complained or said he was tired and wanted home,” the mother of the political prisoner said.

Artsiom Prakapenka was sentenced to 7 years in prison for an attempt to set the doors of the Babruisk KGB office on fire. He was tried together with Yauheny Vaskovich and Pavel Syramolatau. Pavel Syramolatau was freed last year after applying to Lukashenka for a pardon. Artsiom Prakapenka and Yauheny Vaskovich refuse to do so.