Philosopher Uladzimir Mackievič suspends his hunger strike in prison

February 17, BPN. Philosopher Uladzimir Mackievič, 65, who is held in Minsk detention center No. 1, suspended his hunger strike on February 17, his former wife Sviatlana Mackievič told BPN.

The condition of the political prisoner, who had been on hunger strike since February 4 and refused water since the evening of February 14, rapidly deteriorated on Wednesday. According to colleagues of the philosopher, the cellmates alerted the medical staff of the detention center who “took measures to save his life” and “administered an IV drip.”

Mackievič’s colleagues noted that in the afternoon of February 16, investigative actions were carried out in his case, but they did not know the details.

They stressed that the fulfillment of Mackievič’s demands to change the measure of restraint to release on his own recognizance, to complete the investigation, to transfer the case to court and to set a trial date were “fully within the competence” of the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

During the first 11 days of the hunger strike, Mackievič lost seven kilograms. A pastor and a doctor from outside the Interior Ministry were not allowed to see him.

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.