Vitsebsk: Siarhei Kavalenka refuses to stop hunger-strike
On 4 January a lawyer met with an activist from Vitsebsk, who was arrested and placed into a detention facility for a period of investigation of a criminal case against him.
Alena, the wife of Siarhei Kavalenka, asked the lawyer to persuade her husband to stop hunger strike the latter has been holding for the 17th day.
“I asked the lawyer to persuade Siarhei to stop hunger strike. People support him, so he does not need to sacrifice his health. Siarhei told Piotr Kavalenka he would stop hunger strike only after the release. The lawyer says he looks not bad so far. He has medical checks from time to time. I know that body loses some vital elements during hunger strike, but I am not allowed to pass mineral water to Siarhei. I cannot help him!” Alena Kavalenka told in an interview to RFE/RL.
Siarhei Kavalenka was
placed in the detention facility two weeks ago, when a criminal case over
article 415 (evasion of serving sentence) was opened against him. The CCP BPF
party activist is accused of violation of the rules of serving a suspended
sentence which he received for hanging out a Belarusian national
white-red-white flag on a Christmas Tree in Vitsebsk on 7 January 2010.
Siarhei Kavalenka says the accusations are ungrounded and regards them as
pressure on him from correction department officers. He filed several
complaints at the actions by the department officers to the regional
prosecutor’s office.
