Two months of ‘ordinary treatment’
Artsiom Dubski, a Young Front activist from Asipovičy, was accused of using a SIM-card belonging to somebody else to access the Internet, thus, allegedly causing damage to a rightful owner.
He was arrested on 13 February, a day before the infamous Love Rally brutally dispersed by police this year.
His case was considered on 13 March and suspended, since the involved parties settled the conflict. Despite that, the young man had to spend a yet another month in jail.
In his interview to Naša Niva A. Dubski said that in jail he was “treated as any other ordinary inmate. The only negative moment was when police was beating up all 15 people in his cell.”
On 15 April without any explanations A. Dubski was released on a condition that he would not travel outside the country.
Hunger strike behind the bars
Three activists of the entrepreneurs movement still remain imprisoned elsewhere in Belarusian penal institutions. Mikhail Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka, and Yury Liavonau are considered political prisoners by human rights defenders.
A lawyer Pavel Sapelka said to Charter’97 that M. Autukhovich went on a termless hunger strike.
“He demands a maximally fast termination of his case investigation or a preventive punishment change,” – said the lawyer of an arrested businessman, who was known for his fierce critique of authorities’ policy.
Mr Autukhovich spent three months already in the notorious Minsk prison, Akreścina. He and his colleagues were accused of arsons. The Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka publicly linked them with terrorist activities.
The private entrepreneurs movement leader considered these accusations as utterly absurd. He had plans to go without food until he, U.Asipenka, Y.Liavonau would be released from jail.
“He did not feel well. He was complaining about his weak heart and worsening sight,” – commented a lawyer on his client’s health.
Public demands releases
A pro-democracy community organised a Solidarity manifestation on the October Square in Minsk on 16 April.
The manifestation was brutally dispersed by riot police, AMAP. Policemen were beating up people, destroying the EU flags. Manifestation photo coverage on Charter’97.
“Both boys and girls were beaten on their legs, backs, kidneys,” – said to Charter’97 a civic campaign European Belarus activist Aliaksandr Atroshchankau. – “Those, who fell down, were deliberately stepped upon by police. Several people were seriously injured.”
The Solidarity manifestations also took place in other cities of Belarus. In Brest (south west Belarus) 11 youth activists were arrested. In Baranavičy (Brest region) riot police arrested organisers before the rally to prevent people from gathering.
