Head of OSCE Office in Belarus supported participants

• 7.05.2009, 16:59

Head of the OSCE Office in Belarus Hans Jochen Schmidt has visited participants of indefinite hunger strike of solidarity with the political prisoner Mikalay Autukhovich. The protest is held in the headquarters of the Belarusian Popular Front party.

Hans Jochen Schmidt expressed support to the Young Front activists, who continue the hunger strike for the 4th day, the website mfront.net informs.

“We told the diplomat about the hunger strike, about its participants, about our health. It was very pleasant that representatives of foreign diplomatic missions pay attention to these thorniest issues,” said Nasta Palazhanka, a deputy head of the Young Front.

As we have informed, on February 8 businessmen Mikalay Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained in Vaukavysk. They are still kept in the remand prison number 1 in Minsk.

Mikalay Autukhovich declared a hunger strike protesting against lawlessness and arbitrariness of investigative authorities. He demands release of himself and his friends, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka. He continues the hunger strike for the 21st day.

On May 4 political and public activists declared indefinite hunger strike of solidarity with Mikalay Autukhovich. More than 20 well-known political and public personalities both in Belarus and abroad are taking part in the hunger strike.