A year of life in Shklou colony

A year ago Zmiter Dashkevich, one of the organization “Young Front” leader was convicted. 1 November 2006 the court found him guilty on the article 193-1 of the Criminal Code (activity on behalf of an unregistered organization) and sentenced him to 1.5 year of imprisonment. The trial was closed.

Z. Dashkevich is serving his punishment in Shklou common regime colony № 17. 14 August 2007 a new criminal case was brought up against the youth activist – on the article 402 (refusal or evasion of a witness or a complainant to give evidence or of an expert or a translator to perform his or her duties). Dashkevich is accused of the refusal to give evidence on the criminal case against Ivan Shila, who was also accused of activity on behalf of the unregistered organization “Young Front”. According to the article 402 of the Criminal Code, Dashkevich can be deprived of freedom for three years. The trial is to take place 6 November.

Amnesty International recognized Z. Dashkevich a prisoner of conscience, and the Belarusian opposition has created a committee on his release and organized an international campaign of the solidarity with the young politician aiming at informing the wide public about the case of Dashkevich.

It should be noted that the ‘Young Front” activists tried to register their public association in the Ministry of Justice for five times, but unsuccessfully.