17 June 2004 22:29
Belarusian hunger-striking MPs ask Putin for a meeting
Minsk, 17 June: The hunger-striking members of the parliamentary group Republic, Valeryy Fralow, Syarhey Skrabets and
Uladzimir Parfyanovich, sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin today.
The parliamentarians hope that Putin as president "will voice his principled stance regarding the situation in
Belarus and will do his utmost to promote fair and democratic elections in Belarus and the restoration of freedom,
democracy and the rule of law in this country".
The hunger-strikers asked Putin to meet them and "other representatives of the democratic movement to discuss
the situation in the country and prospects for Belarusian-Russian relations."
In addition, doctors from a special hospital taking care of parliamentarians visited the deputies for the first time
since the start of the hunger strike. They convinced Valeryy Fralow of the need to take some medications, but did not
offer to take him to hospital.
Belapan learned from the press secretary of the parliamentary group Republic that Uladzimir Dzyuba, Uladzimir and
Svyatlana Kiryyenka (Homel) and Syarhey and Volha Kaval (Hrodna) have joined the hunger strike.
On 19 June the hunger-striking members of the parliamentary group Republic and activists of the Five-Plus Popular
Coalition, who have joined the hunger strike, intend to lay flowers at the grave of [renowned Belarusian writer] Vasil
Bykaw.
[Belapan news agency] |
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