Investigation into case of political prisoner Uladzimir Asipenka extended for 2 months

The investigation into the case of one of three entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk Uladzimir Asipenka has been extended to two months. Daughter of the political prisoner Liudmila Asipenka told about it on 10 August.

Relatives and lawyers of the arrested entrepreneurs are not informed about extension of the terms of detention and other details of the criminal case. Uladzimir Asipenka is accused of arsons in Vaukavysk in 2005. However, other people were punished for this crime some years ago.

Bear in mind that by August 8 the entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka and Yury Lyavonau have spent 6 month in custody.

Yury Liavonau was released from the Minsk detention facility on his own recognizance on 8 August.

Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Liavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained on 8 February. On 18 February, the entrepreneurs were charged under Article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional damage to or destruction of property of citizens). On 23 June, a criminal case under Article 359 of the Criminal Code (a terroristic act) in the form of preparation (Article 13) was instigated, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. The detained are in pre-trial detention center #1 in Minsk.

Mikalai Autukhovich held a three-month hunger strike from 16 April to 16 July demanding to send his case to court as soon as possible or to change a measure of restraint to all detained from custody to release on own recognizance.

Human rights activists consider the detainees to be political prisoners drawing attention to the fact that Autukhovich and Liavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.