Ihar Bantser's Wife: Husband Is Cheerful and Resolute

What happens to the musician from Hrodna who went on a dry hunger strike in court a week ago.

Last Wednesday, March 3, the trial of the Hrodna musician Ihar Bantser began. During the first hearing on his case, the musician announced a dry hunger strike because he considers his case to be "politically motivated." Bantser has been on a hunger strike for almost a week, according to his familiy.

Ihar's wife, Anzhalika Arekhva, told tut.by that even now, according to her information, Ihar continues his hunger strike. On March 9, a lawyer visited him. Even though the musician refused the services of a lawyer in court, the contract was not terminated, and the lawyer can meet with the accused in the pre-trial detention center.

- I know very little. He weakens but is vigorous, decisive - now, this is all information, - Anzhalika says.

Earlier - in August last year - Bantser also went on a hunger strike, but the hunger strike there was not dry.

Dry fasting is a conscious refusal to take any food or liquid including water. Long-term (more than 1-2 days) refusal to eat and drink negatively affects human health. The loss of water, which causes a sharp decrease in body weight and a malfunction of metabolic processes, is life-threatening. During a dry hunger strike, already on the third day, irreversible processes begin in the human body.

The deprivation of water from an initially healthy person leads to death in 7-10 days, and, in hot, dry conditions - after 3-5 days.

41-year-old Ihar Bantser is the leader of the street punk band Mister X. He is married and has three children. This year, during protests, he served administrative arrest for participating in rallies three times (a total of 18 days) and was also fined.

Then he was detained in a criminal case: on October 20 last year, the man's house was searched. Since that time, he was in the Hrodna pre-trial detention center.