Autukhovich doesn’t stop protest hungry strike
- 3.06.2009, 9:42
The investigation of the case of political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich is extended for a month till July 3. The entrepreneur has lost 25 kilograms for one and a half months of hunger strike. He demands to send the case to court as soon as possible or change the measure of restraint.
Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained on February 8, 2009. On February 18, the investigative department of the militia department of the Hrodna region executive committee accused them under article 218 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (intentional destruction or damage to property of citizens), Radio Svaboda reports.
Lawyers and relatives of the accused state the investigation is not being carried out. On April 16, Mikalai Autukhovich went on hunger strike. The entrepreneur will stop the hungry strike if the case is sent to court or the measure of restraint is changed.
Neither of the two demands was fulfilled.
Moreover, on June 2, the prosecutor of the Minsk region extended the criminal case till July 3. According to lawyer Pavel Sapelka, Mikalai Autukhovich has lost 25 kilograms; the businessman tries not to move to spend less energy.
According to lawyer Pavel Sapelka, Mikalai Autukhovich feels very badly.
“His condition is bad,” the lawyer says. “He continues losing his weight, he has lost 25 kilograms since he was detained. He loses 2–3 kilograms every day. He doesn’t administer IV therapy as he doesn’t see sense in this. He is going to prepare a new complaint, but I can foresee now its destiny. Their attitude to our complaints suggests they didn’t even consider them not that satisfy them.”
According to the lawyer, Mikalai Autukhovich wasn’t presented any new accusations. Pavel Sapelka is surprised with the fact the case is not sent to court though the investigator says he doesn’t have enough proofs of guilt. Mikalai Autukhovich is going to continue his hunger strike.
It should be reminded that Belarusian public and political figures started a relay hunger strike of solidarity with Mikalai Autukhovich.
Human right activists consider the entrepreneurs to be prisoner of science and demand immediate release. It should be noticed that Mikalai Autukhovich and Yury Lyavonau were imprisoned before and recognized priso9ners of conscience by the international community.