Firework in Minsk in honour of Belarusian political prisoners (Photo, video)
2- 11.11.2009, 10:28
An unusual action demanding to release political prisoners was held in the center of Minsk in the evening of November 10.
Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” hung out a banner “Freedom to Political Prisoners” above the bridge over Nyamiha Street. The youth activists also set off fireworks.
About 100 leaflets with information about Belarusian political prisoners and calls to attend a picket of solidarity at October square in Minsk at 6 p.m. on November 16 were handed to people at buss stops on both sides of the street.
We remind that “Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski, businessmen Mikalai Autukhovich and Uladzimir Asipenka are in Belarusian prisons.
On July 7, 2009, Artsyom Dubski was sentenced to a year of imprisonment in a minimum security penal colony for violation of the rules of serving punishment in the Case of 14. Amnesty International recognized the participants of the Process of 14 Prisoners of Conscience in 2009.
Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained in Vaukavysk on February 8, 2009. On February 18, the entrepreneurs were charged under article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional damage to or destruction of property of citizens). On June 23, a criminal case under article 359 of the Criminal Code (a terroristic act) in the form of preparation (article 13) was instigated against Autukhovich and “other persons”.
Lyavonau was released from Minsk remand prison on August 8. All charges against him were dismissed on September 24. Autukhovich and Asipenka are still in detention facility #1 in Minsk.
Human rights activists consider the detained political prisoners, turning attention to the fact that Autukhovich and Lyavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.
