Autukhovich’s motion for dropping the criminal case dismissed

The motion of Mikalai Autukhovich, an entrepreneur from Vaukavysk, to close the criminal case against him has been denied. BelaPAN was informed about that by Pavel Sapelka, Autukhovich’s lawyer.

The lawyer emphasized that as soon as he read the materials of the case he filed a motion to the investigator to dismiss a charges against his client. ‘And almost immediately the motion to close the case was denied’, Sapelka said.

The lawyer does not know at which stage the case of his client is, and whether it has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office. He hasn’t received any official documents in this connection.

As charter97.org website previously informed, Vaukavysk-based businessmen Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Liavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka were detained on 8 February 2009. On 18 February the entrepreneurs were charged under Article 218 of the Criminal Code (intentional damage to or destruction of property of citizens). On 23 June a criminal case under Article 359 of the Criminal Code (a terroristic act) in the form of preparation (Article 13) was instigated against Autukhovich and ‘other persons’.

Liavonau was released from Minsk remand prison on 8 August and was cleared from all charges on 24 September.

Mikalai Autukhovich was on hunger strike since 16 April till 16 July. He demanded either to take the case to the court as soon as possible, or to change the restraint to all persons involved in the case from imprisonment to a written undertaking not to leave the place.

Human rights activists consider them political prisoners, turning attention to the fact that Autukhovich and Liavonau were convicted before and recognized prisoners of conscience by the international community.

This year Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka and Yury Liavonau were given the National Human Rights Award in the nomination For Personal Courage. The award was founded by Charter’97.