24 November 2006
Kozulin's health damaged by hunger strike, official says

The head of the Belarusian prison system's medical service revealed that a lengthy hunger strike had taken its toll on Aleksandr Kozulin's health.

While talking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Minsk on Friday, Vasily Zavadsky, chief of the medical service of the interior ministry's Penal Department, described the fast as the opposition politician's "personal choice." "He took medical tests last week. There are certain [health] problems," he said.

"He is examined by a doctor every day. He refused from hospitalization," the official added.

Mr. Zavadsky noted that the administration of the correctional facility where the politician is held would not make attempts to force-feed Dr. Kozulin. "This not only threatens Dr. Kozulin's health but also is banned by Belarusian laws," he explained.

The former presidential candidate has been on hunger strike since October 20. The administration of the correctional facility has provided little information about his condition. Opposition politician Sergei Skrebets, who was released from the same prison last week, said that Dr. Kozulin had lost 20 percent of his weight and his condition was "near critical." //BelaPAN