Zmitser Dashkevich presents book about prison in Mahilou

Zmitser Dashkevich, the Young Front leader and former political prisoner, presented his book “The Worm” in Mahilou.

The presentation took place in the Kola centre on October 25.

A collection of prison stories titled “The Worm” is the first book by Dashkevich. “People may find interesting the prison routine I described in the book,” the author told a BelaPAN journalist. “Many cannot imagine that Belarusian inmates are not allowed to use spoons,” he added.

According to Dashkevich, he was inspired by other prisoners. “All stories are real. 95 percent are real events, 5 percent are attempts to put them together. Fiction is only 2 percent of the book,” the former political prisoner said.

He noted he wrote the book not only to describe what he saw, but also to kill time in prison. “I didn't want to spent the years in prison in vain. I wanted to share my experience with others,” the politician said.

He has received three prison terms since 2006. He has been in 12 correctional facilities across Belarus. Dashkevich thinks the current penitentiary system makes people persistent criminals rather than helps them return to normal life.

The book “The Worm” was published in Vilnius in 2013 in an edition of 1,000 copies.

Dashekvich received his latest prison term in March 2011. He was found guilty of beating two people. Dashkevich pleaded not guilty. He was arrested a day before the presidential election on December 19, 2010. Human rights defenders called the arrest a preventive measure to clear society from unwanted elements. Dashkevich was sentenced to two years in prison. The term was later extended by one year allegedly for “violating prison rules”. Dashkevich was released in August 2013 and put under preventive supervision, which was extended several times. All restrictive measures were lifted from him on September 10, 2014.