Head of OSCE Office Visits Political Prisoner Artur Finkevich

On 22 March Oke Peterson, head of OPSCE office in Minsk, finally managed to visit Artur Finkevich in Mahilou correctional institution # 43. Two previous attempts of Mr. Peterson to visit the political prisoner were not that successful, reports Radio Racyja. One day earlier the administration of the institution closed the doors in front of the diplomat when Oke Peterson was walking up the stairs.

However, the head of OSCE office decided to visit Artur the next day at his working place. In response, the prison administration did not let Artur leave the building, saying a KGB investigator wanted to meet with the prisoner.

Really, at 2 p.m. senior KGB investigator Ihar Kalesnikau called Finkevich to a conference room and asked questions about activities of Younmg Front. The interrogation lasted for over an hour.

Oke Peterson had a meeting at Mahilou municipality. Then he decided to make the third attempt to meet with Finkevich. The timing was good – 5 p.m. is the time when all prisoners return from work back to the dormitory.

The diplomat was met by head of the correctional institution Alexander Lamaza, who came to work despite his illness. At first Finkevich was isolated in the office of deputy head of ideology fepartment major Kuzkou. After a telephone conversation Peterson was allowed to see Finkevich.

Their conversation in the presence of the head of the prison lasted for over an hour. Oke Peterson asked questions about conditions in the prison and Finkevich’s relations with the prison administration. In his turn, Finkevich called not to compromise and not to start negotiations with the Belarusian government until they meet all 12 Europe’s requirements.