Siarhei Kavalenka’s life is in danger
The political prisoner’s
health is in critical condition.
The activist convicted for raising a white-red-white flag continues a hunger
strike for the 55th day, RFE/RL informs.
The lawyer of Vitsebsk activist has learnt that he had refused forced feeding,
and his state of health deteriorated considerably. Relatives are under
apprehension of his life.
The lawyer of the arrested activist told to his wife that Siarhei Kavalenka’s
hunger strike was put on hold on 16 January by forcible means – he was fed
through a gastric tube.
Then, as said by the chief of the remand prison, Siarhei Kavalenka ate himself
once a day for a short period of time.
At the moment he refuses to eat completely, including forced feeding.
Lawyer
Piotr Kavalenka states
that Siarhei Kavalenka is in a critical condition. Relatives of the activist
are greatly alarmed as well: a tragic outcome can follow.
Alena Kavalenka has been denied
a meeting with her husband for the 7th time, and she does not exclude that the
reason is his exhausted look.
Siarhei Kavalenka has been on hunger strike since 19 December. It is his
protest against criminal charges. The activist is charged with violation of the
probation term – he is serving correctional labour term at home. He was
sentenced to that after hoisting a white-red-white flag on 7 January 2010 on the
main New Year Tree in central Vitsebsk.
The member of the Conservative Christian Party - Belarusian Popular Front faces
up to three years of imprisonment.
The trial over Siarhei Kavalenka is scheduled for 21 February at 10.30 a.m. in the Pershamaiski District Court of Vitsebsk.
