Dzmitry Palienka Transferred To Zhodzina Remand Prison Hospital

The political prisoner is to stay there for at least two or three weeks.

Political prisoner Dzmitry Palienka has written in a letter to his friend Maryna Nasenka that he is ill with bacterial eczema, Belsat reports.

Microbial eczema is a secondary inflammatory dermatological disease that develops around wounds, ulcers and cracks due to infection. It especially often appears on the feet.

According to Maryna Nasenka, on March 27, the Babruisk colony administration transferred Dzmitry to the hospital of the Zhodzina remand prison. He will stay there for at least 2-3 weeks.

The activist writes that the Zhodzina remand prison administration does not confirm to the lawyer that Palienka is staying there.

In the autumn of 2016, Dzmitry Palienka was charged with a two-year suspended sentence under two articles – Article 364 (violence or threat of violence against law enforcement officers) and Part 2 of Article 343 (production and distribution of pornographic materials or pornographic items).

The Human Rights Center Viasna considers such measures of prosecution against Dzmitry disproportionate to the committed offense.

Amnesty International recognizes Palienka as a prisoner of conscience.

On March 10, the Maskouski district court of Minsk sentenced Dzmitry Palienka to seven days of arrest for "petty crime" because he had deeply resented the verdict in the "anti-fascists’ case" at the House of Justice.

On March 20, Dzmitry was arrested near the detention center in Akrestsin Street, where he brought a package for prisoners. The Zavadski district court of Minsk sentenced him to 15 days of arrest for the peaceful protest against the construction of an office center in Kurapaty. On the final day of the arrest, which Dzmitry Palienka was serving in the Zhodzina detention center, he was not set free. His former jailmates informed the activist that another 10 days of arrest had been "added" to his sentence, but it was not known for what.

According to the Belarusian legislation, the suspended sentence can be replaced by a real one if there is a systematic violation of law and order. Three administrative cases within a few months were enough for the court to consider Dzmitry Palienka a systematic infringer.

Dzmitry has to spend in jail another six months.