Mikalai Autukhovich: Custody Prolonged till 14 January 2006

Sixty days ago Mikalai Autukhovich went on hunger-strike. The defense lawyer Halina Ivanova visited him together with the investigator Mikalai Alikhver. According to her, Mr. Autukhovich continues the hunger-strike. The term of the preliminary arrest that was to have ended on 14 December was prolonged till 14 January 2006.

On 12 December there started the familiarization with the materials of the criminal case against Autukhovich, the investigation of which is over. He stated to the investigator he was unable to familiarize with the case because of the state of health. It was put down in the minutes. However, Halina Ivanova states defense lawyers must to examine the case anyway.

The businessman is charged with evasion from taxes which resulted in especially large loss to the budget. The Criminal Case concerns Article #243 of the Criminal Code, providing 3-7 years of jail as punishment with or without property confiscation.