Vyachaslau Dashkevich: I was not allowed to hold my son’s hand

Zmitser Dashkevich, the Young Front leader, has met with his father in the penal colony in the town of Hlubokaye.

Zmitser said he needed a surgery, Euroradio reports.

Vyachaslau Dashkevich and his son had a two-hour meeting with the glass barrier, but without a telephone. They had to shout to each other to be heard.

“I was surprised to see only two cubicles. Usually, there are telephones in a meeting room, but we did not have them. I notice he looks healthier than he was in prison in Zhodzina. In Zhodzina, he was skinny, sadder. Now he is normal, if compare to his state in Zhodzina, Minsk and Horki,” the father of the political prisoner said.

Zmitser’s father was upset because his son’s fiancée, Anastasia Plazhanka, was denied meeting.

“The law allows prisoners to have meetings with their family members and close friends. But his fiancée was denied meeting.

He complained his leg was aching. He says he needs a surgery.”

Zmitser’s father says his son reads, writes and studies English. He also asked to subscribe him to “Narodnaya Volya” and “Nasha Niva” papers.

Vyachaslau Dashkevich says prison guards controlled their conversation, but did not interrupt them.

Vyachaslau Dashkevich wanted to hold his son’s hand at the end of the meeting, but he was banned.

“I asked if they could open the door for a moment and allow me to hold his hand. They said it was forbidden…”