Political prisoner Prakapenka goes on hunger strike in jail

• 20.08.2012, 10:55

Artyom Prakapenka has been in a punishment cell since August 15.

On Friday, the father of the political prisoner, Anatoly Prakapenka, and a lawyer visited penal colony No. 15 in Mahilou, where Artym serves his 7-year sentence. The prison authorities told the lawyer Artyom had announced hunger strike on August 8 and had been thrown into a punishment cell on August 15.

Artyom Prakapenka's mother thinks it's a way to isolate her son in the penal colony, Radio Svaboda reports.

The political prisoner was earlier forbidden to buy food and other necessities at a sum of 100,000 rubles per month (as a persistent violator, the sum he can spend per month was reduced from 500,000 to 100,000 rubles). The prison authorities wanted him to work first shift (he works a painter assistant). In this case, he would be left without dinner. Prakapenka is a vegetarian. He doesn't eat prison food cooking instant oatmeals instead.

The political prisoner receives letters only from his parents. The mother of his friend Ihar Alinevich sent him postcards at Easter and on his birthday, but they were returned to her.

The parents of Prakapenka and his lawyer plan to visit Artyom on August 22, when he is expected to be released from the punishment cell.

Artyom Prakapenka was sentenced to 7 years in prison for arson of KGB building doors in Babruisk. He serves his prison term in the penal colony in Mahilou.