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International Federation for Human Rights, Belarusian group denounce fresh conviction of Zmitser Dashkevich

 

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Belarus’ Vyasna human rights group have denounced the latest sentence imposed on imprisoned opposition activist Zmitser Dashkevich.

In a closed-door trial held earlier this week in a correctional institution in Hlybokaye, Vitsyebsk region, the 31-year-old Dashkevich was found guilty of persistent violation of prison rules and sentenced to a one-year prison term, which means that he will stay behind bars until at least August 28, 2013.

The leader of an opposition youth group called Malady Front has been held in prison since December 2010.

“During his imprisonment, Mr. Dashkevich has been repeatedly subjected to physical and psychological pressure in the penal facilities where he was held,” said a joint statement issued by the FIDH and Vyasna. “He has also been repeatedly placed in a punishment cell for long periods and threatened with death. His right to meet his family has been arbitrarily restricted.”

“Adding new sentences to the previous and not yet completed ones might constitute a further step in the repressive arsenal in Belarus,” said FIDH President Souhayr Belhassen. “The harassment inflicted upon him is politically motivated and contravenes Belarus’ human rights obligations, in particular the prohibition of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.”

The FIDH and Vyasna urged the Belarusian authorities to put an end to any kind of harassment against Mr. Dashkevich and to immediately and unconditionally release him, as well as all other political prisoners in Belarus.

On March 24, 2011, Mr. Dashkevich was sentenced to two years in a minimum-security correctional institution on a charge of "especially malicious hooliganism."

He was arrested in Minsk on December 18, 2010, on the eve of a scheduled large-scale post-election demonstration, for allegedly beating up two passers-by. Speaking during his trial, Mr. Dashkevich said that the incident was a provocation orchestrated by authorities and accused the two alleged victims of giving false testimony.

In September 2011, he refused an offer of freedom in exchange for asking Alyaksandr Lukashenka for a presidential pardon. // BelaPAN