Political prisoner Finkevich transferred to convicted inmates ward

Friends of Artur Finkevich have learnt from his letters that the political prisoner has been transferred to another ward, a ward for convicted inmates. The young activist, who has served a term of corrective labour, was sentenced again to a year and a half of imprisonment in December.

Finkevich challenged the verdict and now waits for of his appeal to be considered. Until now he cannot be considered a convict, that is why his transfer to the ward of convicted inmates is called illegal by experts, Radio Svaboda informs.

According to reports, Administration of Mahilyou detention facility offers Artur Finkevich to agree with sending him to a colony before the appeal considered, but the activist does not agree.

The conditions in the new ward are worse. First more than 20 persons were placed here, though there are 18 places there. Inmates had to sleep in turns. “Now the situation is better. The number of prisoners corresponds the number of sleeping places,” Artur’s friend Liudmila Atakulaa said quoting Artur’s last letter.

According Atakulava’s knowledge, Artur Finkevich started to read the materials of the case which are to be considered when his appeal to Mahilyou regional court would be heard. It is still unknown when processing of the complaint would take place.