OSCE Office head visits Mikalai Autukhovich
Hans-Jochen Schmidt, the head of the OSCE Office in Minsk, on May 29 visited Mikalai Autukhovich, an activist of entrepreneurship movement who is currently being held in pre-trial detention facility in the Belarusian capital. Ambassador Schmidt noted that Autukhovich had no complaints over the medical treatment and described his condition as fair. He also said Autukhovich had no specific requests and was set to continue his hunger strike in order to restore justice.
Hans-Jochen Schmidt said the entrepreneur "looks normal". The ambassador also said that he had earlier raised the issue of medical treatment of Autukhovich at a meeting with "a government official" and received assurances that the issue was under control.
The head of the OSCE Office in Minsk noted that the office "watches closely" the situation with the detained entrepreneurs. The diplomat would not rule out the political motives in this case. He stressed he folloed the position of human rights organizations. For instance, Amnesty International did not recognize the Belarusian entrepreneurs as political prisoners.
Three entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk -- Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Liavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka -- were arrested on February 8, 2009. Ten days after, they were charged with arson. Local human rights activists point to the fact, that another person was jailed for arson in this case, while the three entrepreneurs are known as opposition activists. On April 16, Autukhovich went on a hunger strike. He demands that the case be tabled in court or the three men be released under the written undertaking not to leave the country, reports Belapan
Hans-Jochen Schmidt said the entrepreneur "looks normal". The ambassador also said that he had earlier raised the issue of medical treatment of Autukhovich at a meeting with "a government official" and received assurances that the issue was under control.
The head of the OSCE Office in Minsk noted that the office "watches closely" the situation with the detained entrepreneurs. The diplomat would not rule out the political motives in this case. He stressed he folloed the position of human rights organizations. For instance, Amnesty International did not recognize the Belarusian entrepreneurs as political prisoners.
Three entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk -- Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Liavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka -- were arrested on February 8, 2009. Ten days after, they were charged with arson. Local human rights activists point to the fact, that another person was jailed for arson in this case, while the three entrepreneurs are known as opposition activists. On April 16, Autukhovich went on a hunger strike. He demands that the case be tabled in court or the three men be released under the written undertaking not to leave the country, reports Belapan
