Rallies in support of political prisoners go on in Minsk (Photo)

• 26.05.2009, 9:40

Leaflets with information about Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka are spread in the city center and in crowded places during the last few days.

Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” hand them round at markets, in metro subways, in the streets. The leaflets tell about arrest of entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk and a hunger strike held by Mikalai Autukhovich for the 41st day, website jeans-by.com writes.

It should be reminded that leaders of the entrepreneurs’ movement from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka arrested on February 8 and guarded in pre-trial detention center #1 in Minsk.

Mikalai Autukhovich went on hunger strike on April 16 protesting against criminal persecution and non-investigation of his case. Autukhovich demands to send his case to court or release him on his own recognizance. The political prisoner also demands to release Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka involved in the same case.

The investigation of the case of Vaukavysk businessmen was extended till June 3. Relatives of the political prisoners haven’t received a single permit during four months to visit them.

Human rights activists consider the detained to be political prisoners drawing attention to the fact Mikalai Autukhovich and Yury Lyavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.