Belarusian political prisoner Asipenka transferred to Ivatsevichy penal colony

• 14.06.2010, 15:18

According to the available information, the prisoner was transferred to the penal colony on June 5, but his family learnt this only a week after.

As BelaPAN reports, Uladzimir Asipenka, convicted in the case of Vaukavysk entrepreneurs, has been transferred from a detention facility in Minsk to a penal colony in Ivatsevichy (Brest region) for serving his term.

Vaukavysk entrepreneur Mikalai Autukhovich, also convicted in this case, is to be transferred to Ivatsevichy, too. He is kept in a detention facility in Minsk as he insists to receive medical aid.

According to human rights activist Aleh Vouchak, Autukhovich has a “serious problem with the teeth, he needs urgent prosthodontic services.”

“He faced these problems during his first prison term (he was convicted in July 2006 and released in January 2008). Autukhovich planned to undergo prosthodontic treatment at that time, but he was detained in February 2009,” Vouchak said. “He is in really critical state now, he has been asking the colony administration to render medical aid to him, but he hasn’t received any responses. His requests are being readdressed from one official to another. We, the defense, are ready to find a dental prosthetist, take him to the detention facility, pay for services, but are not given such an opportunity.”

According to Vouchak, Autukhovich has already warned the administration he may go on hungry strike if he doesn’t receive medical aid.

Human rights activists considered the Vaukavysk entrepreneurs political prisoners pointing out serious procedure violations recorded during the trial.