The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

In the Vitsebsk pre-trial prison Alena Kavalenka was assured that there were no delays with the sending of letters and they were checked within the legally allowed term, three days. However, on 1 February she received a letter dated 17 January. In this letter the hunger-striker Siarhei Kavalenka wrote that he was subject to forced feeding.

Six days ago Leanid Hladzevich, a driver working at the “Granite” plant in the city of Mikashevichy, went on a hunger-strike of protest against the pressurization of members of the independent trade-union and deprivation of the head of its local unit, Aleh Stakhayevich, of driver's license for six months.

VITSEBSK, Belarus -- Medical personnel have begun forcibly feeding a jailed political activist on hunger strike in eastern Belarus, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.

The Human Rights Center "Viasna" calls on the Belarusian authorities to immediately stop the persecution of the activist of the Conservative-Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front” Siarhei Kavalenka.

A lawyer of an activist from Vitsebsk has received an official reply from the prosecutor’s office of the Pershamaiski district.

Alena Kavalenka learned it from the investigator who deals with her husband's case. On 3 January she had filed an application for a meeting with Siarhei. However, on 5 Janury investigator Yury Volkau mocked at her, saying that in some cases complaints could be considered for up to 10 days.