Political Prisoner Mikhail Zhamchuzhny: I Continue To Fight For Life

Even in custody, Mikhail Zhamchuzhny defends his rights and legitimate interests.

After a two-month break, Vitsebsk human rights defender Leanid Svetsik received a long-awaited letter from political prisoner Mikhail Zhamchuzhny, Vitsebsk Viasna writes.

As in his previous letters, Mikhail gives details of how he actively defends his rights and legitimate interests in courts, prosecutor's offices and bodies of the Interior Ministry.

"My congratulations on Easter have been destroyed."

Mikhail Zhamchuzhny writes that with the arrival of spring the situation with correspondence has become more acute again. "My congratulations on Easter for a number of human rights activists, including Tatsiana Seviarynets, have been destroyed," – the political prisoner reports bitterly.

"Don't be surprised that I am writing you a letter on a used sheet of paper. I will probably buy it only tomorrow (May 5)," – Mikhail reports.

I have appealed against the title of "extremist"

"I have received a response to my supervisory appeal from the Supreme Court – the sentence has not been changed. However, it is reported that the new circumstances should be appealed to the prosecutor's office under section 43 of the Criminal Procedure Code. For the first time in 10 years I hear about such a procedural possibility. Probably, the CPC has changed. I will take this into account for future work. I plan to use the advice of the Supreme Court," – Mikhail Zhamchuzhny writes in a letter.

"I have written an appeal against the preventive registration as an "extremist" to the Mahiliou Department of Corrections, and then to the head of the colony. This gives the right to appeal against the registration in court, as this registration was appointed when I had no penalties and had the status of the one who is "mending his ways." The title of "extremist" does not allow me to appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee with individual complaints, because they do not consider the complaints of terrorists, which are included in the concept of "extremist," – the political prisoner writes.

"A lot has come to light, hasn't it?"

"The ninth application for the payment of vitamins has disappeared in two years. Not a single ascorbine is given. However, I learned from the Health Ministry's response that the medical units are subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs according to the decree of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Health dd. 27.08.2003 № 202 / 39. A lot has come to light, hasn't it? I continue to fight for life!"

"I have complained again to Mahiliou prosecutor about the attack on me in the medical unit of the colony on January 24, 2018. I have attached the proofs I have to my complaint. This will provide an opportunity to abolish all penalties and to be released upon reaching the retirement age or under the amnesty for the Day of Liberation of Belarus," – Mikhail Zhamchuzhny writes.

Svetsik: He will withstand all the trials

"This summer, I'll be four years of my correspondence with Mikhail Zhamchuzhny. During this time, I have studied Mikhail's personal qualities quite deeply. I think he is courageous, not indifferent to other people's problems, able to defend human rights to the end. I hope that he will withstand all the trials and be released as a decent man," – Leanid Svetsik, a human rights activist, characterizes his colleague.