As a result of his lengthy detainment in custody (over a year) in extremely unhealthy conditions, Nikolai Avtukhovich has lost almost all his teeth and consequently is unable to eat normally. Despite many appeals by the prisoner to the administration of the SIZO and to the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs [MVD] of Belarus responsible for the execution of penalties, he has systematically been refused access to the necessary medical assistance and indeed the SIZO administration have blocked his appeals to the department of the MVD responsible for the execution of penalties.
Businessman Nikolai Avtukhovich was sentenced on 16 May 2010 by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus to five years’ imprisonment for the possession of a firearm and ammunition. Originally, Nikolai Avtukhovich along with Vladimir Osipenko, Mikhail Kozlov and Aleksandr Larin were accused of a number of serious crimes, including preparing a terrorist act, but following an open examination of the case in court, they were acquitted of the majority of the charges brought against them. From the outset the case has evoked a wide public response and has come under the close scrutiny of human rights defenders. The investigation into this criminal case, according to FIDH and HRC Viasna, involved significant violations of procedural guarantees which were obviously politically motivated.
FIDH and HRC Viasna believe that the refusal by the Belarus authorities to provide necessary medical assistance to the prisoner Nikolai Avtukhovich amounts to inhumane and cruel treatment in violation of art. 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and art. 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
FIDH and HRC Viasna demand that the Belarus authorities immediately cease violating the rights of the prisoner Nikolai Avtukhovich and grant him the necessary medical assistance.