Former businessmen from Vaŭkavysk (Western Belarus, Hrodna region) were suspected in conspiracy to assasinate the Hrodna region highest executive Uladzimir Sauchanka in 2005, and also they were investigated in a series of property arsons of the Vaŭkavysk authorities. The investigation believed that Autukhovich was a leader of a criminal ring. Amnesty International had declared him a prisoner of conscience during his previous case for tax evasion. However, the new Autukhovich case proved to be even more resonant and politicised. Belarusian HR defenders called this case ‘a persecution for civic activism.’

New political prisoners

There were four suspects all together in the so-called ‘Autukhovich case:’ Mikalai Autukhovich himself – an Afghan war veteran, before his first conviction owned the Radiotaxi Company in Vaŭkavysk; Uladzimir Asipenka – a retired army officer, an Afghan war veteran, Autukhovich’s business partner; Mikhail Kazlou – a criminal investigator of the Hrodna anti-corruption police department. In 2003 he investigated claims brought forward by Autukhovich and Asipenka about wide-spread corruption in Vaŭkavysk. Now he was charged with covering up information concerning alleged terrorist plots. Aliaksandr Laryn, former Autukhovich’s employee, was also convicted in the same trial.

From a business owner to a convict

Autukhovich had been convicted previously for tax evasion in 2005. That particular court verdict both abroad and domestically was widely considered as ‘political.’ Many believed that the Vaŭkavysk entrepreneur was being punished for his strong civic stand. While running his humble business in a small back-water provincial town Autukhovich had encountered numerous cases of corruption by the local authorities. He just could not be quite about it. The two and a half year imprisonment was the result of it. 

After being released on parole in 2008 Autukhovich continued with his civic intiatives. He became a deputy chair of the Republic Veteran Movement. The Movement leader Aliaksandr Kamarouski declared intentions to create a political party of Afghan war veterans. It was planned that party members could be drawn from acting officers law enforcement agencies – army, police, KGB. Shortly after voicing the plans Kamarouski was found in possession of a large sum of fake US dollars. In his turn Autukhovich was arrested over again after he had publicly refused to accept a medal commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.  

“An alleged terrorist plot”

The investigation of an alleged terrorist plot, masterminded by Autukhovich and assisted by his collegues, had lasted for 10 months. A hand held RPG launcher, which according to the official version was supposed to be a murder weapon, had been found on a school yard in 2005 when Autukhovich was serving his first term. Around the same time a criminal investigation about treats to a state official, the Hrodna region head executive Sauchanka, was started. He had received anonymous treats by mail. After arresting Autukhovich in February 2009, the authorities had only to link together cases about treats and firearms with ‘silencing’ of an overly active citizen. 

5 years for 5 shells

The final verdict to ‘terrorists’ was pronounced by the Supreme Court on 6 May. Mikalai Autukhovich was sentenced to 5 years and 2 months in a maximum security penal colony for illegal possession and transportation of 5 shotgun shells and a hunting rifle. Charges of plotting terrorist attacks on the deputy-minister for Taxes and Duties Vasil Kamianko and the Hronda region head executive Uladzimir Sauchanka were dropped. The hunting rifle had belonged to Autukhovich. After his first conviction he had lost the right to possess firearms, and the rifle was reregistered to another person. Uladzimir Asipenka got a 3 year term in a general security penal colony for possessing and transporting explosives and firearms. Aliaksandr Laryn was convicted on the same charges for 3 years. Mikhail Kazlou, ex-policeman, would spend the next 2 years in a penal colony. He was found guilty of not revealing, for personal interests, information about arms to the investigation.  

The trial caused quite a sizeable public outcry and was covered extensively in the media. Belarusian HR defenders reacted to the verdict by adopting a statement of concern. “The analysis of the evidence received and studied at the trial, gives no grounds to consider it as sufficient for an accusative verdict. According to information of the investigator, the case is controlled by the President of the Republic of Belarus,” the document stressed.

The international community also responded to the politically motivated court decision. “We had hopes that the Belarusian authorities would use this opportunity to demonstrate a proper implementation of legal procedures and independence of the judicial system. Unfortunately, there are reasons to doubt aptness of this proceedings in regard to civic rights of Mikalai Autukhovich and other convicted men,” the US embassy stated.