Syarhei Kavalenka’s life in danger

• 13.02.2012, 9:59

The political prisoner’s health is in critical condition.

The activist convicted for raising a white-red-white flag continues a hunger strike for the 55th day, Radio Svaboda informs.

The lawyer of Vitsebsk activist has learnt that he had refused forced feeding, and his state of health deteriorated considerably. Relatives are under apprehension of his life.

The lawyer of the arrested activist told to his wife that Syarhei Kavalenka’s hunger strike was put on hold on January 16 by forcible means – he was fed through a gastric tube.

Then, as said by the chief of the remand prison, Syarhei Kavalenka ate himself once a day for a short period of time.

At the moment he refuses to eat completely, including forced feeding.

Pyotr Kavalenka, the lawyer, believes that Syarhei Kavalenka is in a critical condition. Relatives of the activist are greatly alarmed as well: a tragic outcome can follow.

Alena Kavalenka had been denied a meeting with her husband for the 7th time, and she does not exclude that the reason is his exhausted looks.

Syarhei Kavalenka is on hunger strike since December 19. It is his protest against criminal charges. The activist is charged with violation of the probation term – he is serving correctional labour term at home. He was sentenced to that after hoisting a white-red-white flag on January 7, 2010 on the city Christmas Tree in central Vitsebsk.

The member of the Conservative Christian Party - Belarusian Popular Front faces up to three years of imprisonment.

The trial over Syarhei Kavalenka is scheduled for February 21 at 10.30 a.m. in the court of Pershamajski district of Vitsebsk.