Censor crosses out words about start of hungerstrike in political prisoner’s letter
Political prisoner Henadz Smirnou, who is being held in Baranavichy pre-trial detention centre, went on a hunger strike, he wrote in a letter dated November 28. However, a censor crossed out the words about the hunger strike, human rights activists report.
“It is the second time I have gone on a ‘dry’ hunger strike, because not all letters are handed over to me and no medical care is provided,” the letter reads.
‘Dry hunderstriking’ means that a person does not take either food or water. Henadz intended to be on a hunger strike ‘until his legal demands were met’.
Moreover, the censor ruled out the sentence about the threats to put Smirnou in solitary confinement. The man also writes that there are no interesting books in the pre-trial detention centre, and the prisoners have to read the ones that are brought to them once a week. During his being behind bars (since August 3), Smirnou has already read 26 books.
Henadz and his son Vyachaslau were accused of insulting Alyaksandr Lukashenka. In addition, Henadz was accused of resisting a policeman during his detention. He was sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment, and his son – to 2 years of restriction of liberty. The two men renounced accusations of insulting the president. Henadz partially pleaded guilty of offering resistance to the police.
