Verdict to Autukhovich and Liavonau Upheld

The verdict to Vaukavysk businessman Mikalai Autukhovich and his colleague Yury Liavonau came into force. Lawyer Halina Ivanova told RFE/RL, the judicial board on criminal cases of Hrodna regional court upheld the verdict and did not satisfy the appeal which had been filed by the convicted businessman and their lawyers.
On July 7, 2006 Kastrychnitski court of Hrodna sentenced Mikalai Autokhovich to 3 years and 6 months of jail and seizure of property. Nika-Trans company director Yury Liavonau received 3 years and 5 months of imprisonment. They were found guilty of tax evasion, and failure to register a company and receive an appropriate license for transfer of cargo and passengers. As a result the local budget had great losses.
During the investigation Mikalai Autokhovich was on a long-term hunger strike. After that he was transferred to a jail hospital, and, later, put on a home arrest. He escaped but was later caught and put in custody. During the trial he refused to eat again.