MOSCOW—Decathlete Andrei Krauchanka says that seeing hundreds of people detained for their political views in his native Belarus has been as painful as competing with a torn Achilles tendon.
To support those behind bars and aid their families, the 2008 Olympic silver medallist has started a 10-day hunger strike and is auctioning his gold medal from the 2011 European indoor championships.
Belarusians protested for months after a presidential election last August that opponents say was rigged so that veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko won. He has denied electoral fraud and police have cracked down on protests, detaining thousands.
Krauchanka was briefly jailed last November…
Keep on reading: Belarusian athlete stages hunger strike to support jailed compatriots