Uladzimir Mackievič lost seven kilograms in 11 days of hunger strike

February 15, BPN. In 11 days of hunger strike, 65-year-old philosopher and political prisoner Uladzimir Mackievič lost seven kilograms and he feels ill, reported his colleagues in Facebook.

They learned that Mackievič has been on a dry hunger strike since the evening of February 14. Mackievič refused to talk to the prison psychologist believing that it is beyond her powers to fulfill his requirements.

Mackievič also filed an application to the head of the pre-trial detention center with a request to certify his will.

Neither a pastor nor a doctor from outside the Interior Ministry system were allowed to see Mackievič. Today he was examined twice by a doctor from the pre-trial detention center.

The daughter of the political prisoner Nadzieja Lučanok said that that Viačaslaŭ Hančarenka, pastor of the New Life Protestant Church, submitted requests to the administration of Minsk detention center No. 1 to visit the philosopher, but the visit was denied.

Under the conditions of the dry hunger strike (Mackievič was on a hunger strike since February 4, but still drank water), “the threat to life and health is obvious,” therefore, as the daughter of the political prisoner said, “there is very little time left.” Lučanok stressed that her father’s demands are “legitimate and feasible.”

“The responsibility for life, detention conditions, and qualified assistance lies with the management of the detention center, but they are hostages of the Investigative Committee and the prosecutor’s office. We demand immediate action, admission to Uladzimir Mackievič of a pastor and a doctor from outside the Interior Ministry system. We demand the reaction of the Investigative Committee,” she said.

Another term of 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.

On February 12, Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) appealed to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and to the UN Special Rapporteurs regarding the case of Uladzimir Mackievič.

“We asked the special rapporteurs to take urgent action in this case, as Uladzimir’s firm intention to begin a dry hunger strike and keep it until his demands are met could have irreversible consequences for his life and health, taking into account his age,” the BHC noted. “Using the Mackievič case as an example, we highlighted the widespread practice of keeping people accused in politically motivated cases in custody for as long as possible without carrying out investigative actions. We consider it as a form of pressure and coercion of people to refuse exercising their rights, as well as participating in public or political activities.”

Mackievič was detained on August 4, 2021. 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.