Hunger strike of solidarity continues

• 2.06.2009, 11:15

New activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” joined the hunger strike of solidarity with the political prisoners.

Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Uladzimir Lemesh and Maxim Syarheets finished trhe hunger strike of solidarity with political prisoners Mikalay Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka which they continued for a week, the website europeanbelarus.org informs.

An activist of the “European Belarus” Alyaksandra Khamitskaya from Minsk and Andrei Babitsky from Barysau joined the hunger strike instead of them.

“I started the hunger strike of solidarity with political prisoners as I couldn’t stay inert as in our country horrible processes are taking place. A healthy society cannot react tranquilly to such things as criminal reprisals over political opponents, political assassinations are taking place… Mikalay Autukhovich continues the hunger strike for 45 days already, and his life is in danger. We are becoming copartners of a slow murder. Now it is Autukhovich, yesterday it was Zakharanka, Hanchar, Krasouski, and tomorrow it could be anyone at all. It is especially awful that the regime strikes at free, strong in spirit and decent people in the first place, at those for whom the country should feel proud. That is why I call upon everyone who values solidarity, join rallies of protest and support Mikalay Autukhovich and his friends,” Andrei Babitski said commenting his decision.

Mikalay Autukhovich’s hunger strike lasts since April 16. The political prisoner protests against political prosecution and his case being in fact not investigated. He demands either to send the case to the court, or to release him under a written undertaking not to lose the place. Besides, the political prisoner demands to release Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka, who are involved in the same case.