Mikalai Autukhovich: No sense in participating in “elections”

A former political prisoner calls to boycott the presidential elections.

Mikalai Autukhovich said it in an interview with Radio Racyja, commenting on the election strategy prepared by opposition parties.

“There’s no sense in participating in or preparing for the elections, because we don’t have elections,” he said. “I always wrote when I was in prison that there was no sense in participating in the elections. We need a boycott to show that we don’t have elections. If people say ‘no’ to elections together, something can change. I have nothing to say about the politicians and opposition members who prepare for the elections.”

Autukhovich was arrested in October 2005 for the first time for alleged tax evasion. He was sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment. He was among six political prisoners who were released due to harsh sanctions of the EU and the US.

Autukhovich was arrested on February 8, 2009, for the second time.

In May 2010, the Supreme Court of Belarus found him guilty of violating part 3 of article 295 of the Criminal Code (illegal actions in relation to firearms, ammunition and explosives) for carrying and storing five cartridges for a hunting rifle. He was sentenced to 5 years and two months in a maximum security correctional facility.

Human rights defenders recognised Autukhovich a political prisoner, who was convicted for his public activity and anti-corruption struggle. They point at serious procedural violations during the trial.

Mikalai Autukhovich was released on April 8, 2014.