Kavalienka Sent to Penal Colony No. 19

Opposition activist Siarhiej Kavalienka has been placed in Correctional Institution No. 19 in Mahiliou to serve his prison sentence, his wife, Aliena, told BelaPAN on Monday.

“We have been told that he is already there,” said Aliena. “They said that he had been brought to the prison yesterday but refused to say exactly when. Neither were we told anything about his health or whether Siarhiej continues his hunger strike.”

Aliena said that her husband’s lawyer would try to meet with him this week.

Mr. Kavalienka, a 37-year-old member of the Conservative Christian Party, was sentenced to a suspended three-year prison sentence in 2010 for putting a white-red-white flag on top of Viciebsk`s tallest Christmas tree in early January.