Fifth Day of Hunger-strike: 36 Participants

On 1 January the activists of democratic movement from Zhodzina Barys Babkou, Zmitser Chartkou, Siarhei Davydzenka and Anastasia Shymko. According to the statement of Zmitser Chartkou to the press-service of the Young Front they have joined the action in connection with the unprecedented wave of pressurization of the activists of the Young Front and members of other youth organizations. Mr Chartkou said: Our decision is a sign of solidarity with our friends who are persecuted for their political views, accused in crimes and expelled from educational establishments. We are against it and therefore decided to hunger.

In Salihorsk the hunger-strike was supported by Dzianis Karnou and Dzianis Sandras and in Minsk  by Zmitser Dashkevich and Artur Finkevich, who were released after 15 days in jail. Mr Dashkevich said: We are very moved by such brave deed as the hunger-strike of our friends who despite the unprecedented wave of repressions defend the democratic values in our country. We thank to the courageous people who held actions in support of the Young Front and join the hunger-strike. The police purposefully released Dashkevich and Finkevich 1,5 hours earlier so that they couldnt meet with other members of the Young Front. Artur Finkevich was driven out of the jail to the court in Siamashka Street.

Today, on 2 January, the activists from Zhodzina Siarhei Hudzilin, Pavel Karaniukhin, Iauhen Vaukavets and the member of Young Front from Minsk Kiryl Shymanovich have joined the hunger-strike as well.

So, all in all 36 persons participate in the hunger-strike: 8 in Salihorsk, 13 in Minsk, 7 in Hrodna, 7 in Zhodzina and 1 in Kyiv (Ukraine).