Condition of political prisoner Autukhovich is “steadily bad”

• 29.06.2009, 9:13

Entrepreneur from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich has been on hunger strike for more than 70 days in Minsk pre-trial detention center #1.

Lawyer of the political prisoner Pavel Sapelka says the health of his client was “steadily bad”.

“He feels badly. He has a new problem – his teeth began to fall out. He lost much weight but he is going to continue the hunger strike,” Radio Svaboda quotes the lawyer.

However, even the lawyer doesn’t know a complete picture of the condition of Mikalai Autukhovich.

“He didn’t eat anything, because he doesn’t receive parcels from outside. When one goes on hunger strike, he or she can receive only water. This is a rule,” Pavel Sapelka says.

“He is an extremely brave man who is not used to give up and can survive by an effort of will,” Pavel Sapelka described his client.

Leaders of entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained on February 8. Their detention was authorized by the prosecutor of the Hrodna region. On February 18, the three businessmen were charged under article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional damage to or destruction of property).

On June 23, the criminal case against Mikalai Autukhovich, accused of arsons, was consolidated with a criminal case of a grenade launcher. The case is investigated by officer of the main investigatory department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Klachko.

Human rights activists consider the detainees to be political prisoners drawing attention to the fact Autukhovich and Lyavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community. Mikalai Autukhovich went on April 16. He demands to send his case to court as soon as possible or to change has the measure of restraint from custody to release on own recognizance.