Back-pay hunger striker, 55, dies of stroke

Coal miner Valentina Shestakova, 55, a participant in a hunger strike for back pay at the Yenisei mine in Chernogorsk, Khakasiya, from May 17 through May 29, died Wednesday of a stroke, Chernogorsk authorities announced. She was to be buried today. A long-time worker at the mine, Shestakova was a shift chief at the time of her death. She was hospitalized several times during the hunger strike with high blood pressure.

All of the strikers were given medical examinations after the strike, and all were said to be in good condition. Doctors had warned, however, of possible very serious aftereffects of their extended refusal to eat. Twenty-six strikers were hospitalized at times during the strike, and another 60 participants were diagnosed as in very weakened conditions. All had been advised not to return to work until mid-June.