It became known that the defendant in the "Rabochy Rukh" case and activist of Belarusian Independent Trade Union Aliaksandr Kapshul stopped his hunger strike. This was reported by the human rights activists of the center "Viasna".
On 31 December Aliaksandr went on a hunger strike against violations of the law during his detention in the Gomel pre-trial detention center. The hunger strike lasted for 51 days. It is also known that the first few days of the hunger-strike were dry-refusal to take not only food, but also water.
Recall that Aliaksandr Kapshul was detained on the territory of the Russian Federation on September 25, 2021 and handed over to the KGB of Belarus. Earlier it was reported that his leg was broken and his arm was injured.
Since 9 November the trial of ten political prisoners in the Rabochy Rukh case has been held in Homiel Regional Court in closed regime. Aliaksandr Kapshul, as well as five other prisoners are members of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union.
On 17 February judge Aliaksandr Piskunau sentenced Aliaksandr Kapshul to 15 years of imprisonment. As for the other defendants in the case, there were also sentences: Siarhei Shelest - 14 years in jail, Uladzimir Zhurauka - 15 years in jail, Andrei Paheryla - 14 years in jail, Hanna Ablab - 11 years in jail, Aliaksandr Hashnikau - 14 years in jail, Siarhei Dzuba - 12 years in jail, Ihar Mints - 12 years in jail, Valiantsin Tseranevich - 12 years in jail, Siarhei Shametko - 12 years in jail. In addition, the convicts are liable to fines of 100 to 500 basic units.
All involved were accused of "high treason" (Part 1 of Art. 356 of the Criminal Code) and "creation of an extremist organization" (Part 3 of Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code). Kapschul was additionally accused of "illegal actions with firearms" (part 2 of Art. 295 of the Criminal Code). Shelest, Zhurauka and Paheryla are additionally accused of "slander" (Art. 188 of the Criminal Code).