Philosopher Uladzimir Mackievič confirms his intentions to start a dry hunger strike on February 15 if his measure of restraint is not changed

February 11, BPN. Philosopher Uladzimir Mackievič, who has been on a hunger strike since February 4, feels “increasing weakness”, his colleagues reported on his Facebook page with reference to the political prisoner’s lawyer.

“How am I feeling? Increasing weakness, the rest is as usual. Monday is a critical day: on Monday I will still be drinking water, and on Monday something may still be decided. On Tuesday [February 15] I am going on a dry hunger strike,” the defender conveyed Mackievič’s words.

Colleagues of the philosopher noted that the investigation “did not take any actions to address Mackievič’s claims.”

Another term of Uladzimir Mackievič’s detention expired on February 4 and he was not released. Since his demands were not met – the preventive measure was not changed to release on his own recognisance, the investigation was not completed and the case was not sent to court with a date set for a hearing – the philosopher began a hunger strike.

The political prisoner warned that he would drink water for the first ten days, but if his demands are not met during this time, he intended to start a dry hunger strike.

“A hunger strike is an extreme measure,” his colleagues’ post said on his Facebook page. “Uladzimir has a hunger-strike experience when his demands were met: the case with the defense of the New Life Church building [in 2006]. Back then his hunger strike lasted for 23 days. But he was not in prison. A hunger strike is a way of pressure. The prisoner’s only argument may be his body and his life. We know that today there is virtually no argument for the regime, it is not afraid of conviction, nor does it seek to appear civilized. Still, the wider the outcry and pressure, the greater the chances for Uladzimir’s victory.”

Mackievič was detained on August 4, 2021. He is held in pre-trial detention center No. 1 on Valadarskaha Street in Minsk. He is charged under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order).

The philosopher does not admit guilt and believes that his articles, statements, ideas and thoughts served as the basis for his detention and charges.

Uladzimir Mackievič is a public and political figure, TV presenter, the founder and the head of the Humanitarian Technologies Agency, the first head of the EuroBelarus international consortium’s Council, the founder of the Flying University. He is a core member of the Coordinating Council for the settlement of the political crisis in Belarus.