Political prisoner Rubtsou repeatedly goes on a hunger strike
Yury Rubtsou. Photo by the HRC “Viasna”.
July 10, Yadviha Rubtsova, wife of political prisoner, told RFE/RL:
"Today a lawyer has visited my husband and then made me a call. It turns out that since July 1 he has been on a hunger strike. He protests against conditions in the detention facility and the way he is treated. He still feels good, perhaps, it is because of only the ninth day on a hunger strike. It is another bad news for me. He is still being treated patiently, but is already threatened with isolation ward if he continues the strike", Yadviha Rubtsova said.
The lawyer told about the reasons for the protest.
"Rubtsou said there had been breaks with walks and he even had had to complain. He also complained about the restriction to the prison store. Yet he was several times proved he had violations, but he had no demands against, but was threatened with incarceration. But the main thing is that he has to stand up when a guard enters the cell. He says that he "is forced to be in the cell that is like a toilet and take a bow to every person". Meanwhile, he pleads not guilty. All these factors caused a hunger strike. Besides, no one tells about it. As a result, we sat down and made up a complaint against guards' actions and sent it to the head of the institution to understand the reasons for his protest. I also asked him to take care of himself and be more patient. I hope it will work. But he is still on a hunger strike", the lawyer says.
According to the lawyer, on 24 July a cassation appeal against the verdict of the Pruzhany District Court is scheduled. Then Yury Rubtsou was sentenced to two years in prison. Brest Regional Court will consider the appeal.
Rubtsou pleads not guilty and says he did not avoid the work, but he asked to provide him with a job with an average salary in Belarus. By the trial in the Pruzhany District Court he was on a hunger strike and asked for a public trial and abatement of action. Then he spent 50 days on a strike and lost 20 kg. In Baranavichy pretrial detention facility Rubtsou complained about poor nutrition.
In 2014 Yury Rubtsou was sentenced to a year and a half for insulting the judge Kiryl Palulekh of Savetski District court of Minsk. The judge agreed to try a half-dressed activist. The day after the Chernobyl rally, militiamen took away Rubtsou's t-shirt with the inscription "Lukashenka go away."
During his term in Kuplin, Pruzhany district he made a tattoo with the same words "Lukashenka go away".
