Dziadok's health deteriorates in prison

Political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok was taken to a hospital in Mahilou for an examination some days before the trial.

Charter97.org learnt it from the political prisoner's wife Valeria Khotsina.

“Mikalai complained several times about problems with health and stomach pain. He was taken to a prison hospital in Zhodzina for an examination more than a year ago. It happened so that the doctor he needed was on holidays. Dziadok had to return to prison without an examination. He was put on a diet, which meant that he received a small piece of butter, an egg and milk in addition to his normal menu. He hadn't undergone the necessary examination for a year. The problem wasn't solved.

His mother called the prison administration, and Mikalai was taken to a ordinary hospital in Mahilou. Mikalai writes he got impressions for the whole week. It was the first time in three years when he saw streets, birds and other people. He was impressed that people openly avoided contacts with him. A doctor said to check the stomach and recommended a diet. It's unclear how they will fulfill the prescription. Mikalai will be given an additional year of imprisonment tomorrow and will be transferred to another correctional facility,” Valaria Khotsina noted.

Political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok is tried in Mahilou prison No.4 on February 25. Dziadok is charged with violating prison rules for more than 20 times since 2012. His main violation was that he put on a tracksuit instead of his prison uniform.

Mikalai Dziadok was arrested on September 3, 2010. On May 27, 2011, Minsk's Zavadski district court sentenced him to 4.5 years in a high security correctional facility for hooliganism (part 2 of article 339 of the Criminal Code). On December 5, 2012, confinement conditions for Dziadok were strengthened. He was transferred from correctional facility No.17 in Shklou to prison No.4 in Mahilou.

Human rights defenders say the reason for the prosecution was Dziadok's participation in a protest rally near the Ministry of Defence against the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises.

Dziadok was to be released on March 3, 2015, after the expiration of his prison term.