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Lawyer denied meeting with Statkevich since December 29

Mikalay Statkevich's lawyer has been denied a meeting with the former presidential candidate since December 29.

As Tatsyana Stankevich told BelaPAN, the 54-year-old politician, who is held in the KGB detention center in Minsk, may still be on hunger strike which he began immediately after his arrest on December 19.

Ms. Stankevich said that she had written a petition demanding a new meeting with her client, but the authorities had failed to respond so far.

When reached by BelaPAN, Mr. Statkevich's associate, Syarhey Skrabets, expressed certainty that the politician was still refusing food. "I'm sure of this, at least because they have not allowed the lawyer to see him and no letters have come from him," he explained.

In late December, Mr. Statkevich was charged under Parts One and Two of the Criminal Code’s Article 293, which penalize the organization of mass riots and participation in them, and provide for prison terms of between five and 15 years and between three and eight years, respectively.