Minsk: picket of solidarity with political prisoners

An action of solidarity with Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Liavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka was held near the pre-trial detention center #1 of the police department of Minsk city executive committee.

Activists of the civil campaign European Belarus unfurled the banner ‘Freedom for Political Prisoners!’ at the main entrance to the jail.

They were chanting ‘Freedom for Autukhovich!’, ‘Freedom for Asipenka!’, ‘Freedom for Liavonau!’ Five minutes after the beginning of the picket officers of the pre-trial center ordered to stop the action and tried to hinder filming the events. The police squad that came later didn’t take any measures against the activists and the picket was held without dispersal and detentions.

Pickets of solidarity with entrepreneurs’ leaders Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Liavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka kept in prison since 8 February have been held in the Belarus’s capital since 1 May. Mikalai Autukhovich has been on hunger strike since 16 April. He demands that his case should be sent to court or the leaders of entrepreneurs be released on their own recognizance.