The political prisoner started his hunger strike on April 16.

The political prisoner demands to send the case to court as soon as possible or to change measure of restraint to him, Uladzimir Asipenka, and Yury Lyavonau from custody to release on own recognizance.

Condition of entrepreneurs’ leader Mikalai Autukhovich deteriorated on April 29, and he was taken to a jail medical unit. According to lawyer Pavel Sapelka, who saw his client last week, condition of the Vaukavysk entrepreneur on hunger strike deteriorated seriously.

“He feels very badly. His analyses are bad. He has problems with liver. Autukhovich is very weak and says he feels much worse than on hunger strike three years ago after his first arrest,” Sapelka said.

The lawyer noted Autukhovich was going to continue the strike “till the end”. He added the entrepreneur from Vaukavysk wasn’t involved in any investigative actions.

As Pavel Sapelka said “There has been no reaction to the hunger strike from the authorities, militia, investigative agencies, and procuracy so far.” The lawyer made a motion to administration of the pre-trial center asking to allow Autukhovich to receive spring water, but the motion was denied.

Activists of the entrepreneurs’ movement from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained on February 8, 2009. On February 18, they were brought charges under article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional destruction or damage to property of citizens). Human rights activists consider the detained to be political prisoners, they turn attention to the fact Mikalai Autukhovich and Yury Lyavonau were convicted before and were recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.

Autukhovich went on several hunger strikes, among them one dry, in custody. His longest strike in 2005 lasted for more than 70 days. The prisoner of conscience ruined his health seriously.

Actions of solidarity with political prisoners are held every day in Belarus. Democratic activists organize protests actions demanding to release Autukhovich, Asipenka, and Lyavonau. Young oppositionists went on 12-day hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoner Autukhovich.

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