The EU claims to review Mikalai Dziadok's sentence

The European Union calls on the Belarusian government to review the sentence of the political prisoner.

"The importance of political prisoners' issue in the context of relations between the EU and Belarus is still urgent", the statement of the spokesperson of the European External Action Service on the term extension of Mikalai Dziadok, who was to be released on March 3, says.

The EU notes, the decision of the Belarusian court to extend the term of imprisonment on charges of violation of prison regulations, as well as the rejection of his appeal against the verdict, are "regrettable", BelaPAN reports.

"We call on the Belarusian authorities to review the sentence of Mr Dziadok, immediately release him and all remaining political prisoners," the statement says.

On February 26, 2015 Leninski District Court of Mahileu found the jailed political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok guilty of willful violation of the regime and sentenced him to a year and three days' imprisonment. Dziadok's term of confinement ended on March 3, however, the court found him guilty in a new crime and it delayed his release.

On April 30 during the consideration of the prisoner's complaint the Cassation Board rejected his motion to be present at the court session. The judge agreed with the prosecution that the prisoner's presence was not necessary, because his position was set out in the complaint.

Dziadok was convicted on May 27, 2011. Zavadski District Court of Minsk sentenced him to four years of imprisonment in maximum security penal colony under Article 339 para. 2 of the Criminal Code (malicious hooliganism). Human rights activists believe his participation in a peaceful demonstration against joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises was the reason for his sentence.

Mikalai should have been released on March 3. The activist has served 4.5 years in prison for alleged hooligan actions against official buildings. He pleaded not guilty and refused to write a petition for pardon. Half of his term Mikalai Dzidok served in "closed" prison and was treated as malicious offender.

On February 26 Leninsky District Court of Mahilou sentenced him to an additional year of imprisonment in maximum security penal colony under Article 411 of the Criminal Code for "wilful disobedience to the requirements of the administration." Belarusian human rights activists are seeking to repeal the article, which has no analogues in other post-Soviet countries.