Belarusian 'prisoner of conscience' gets additional year in jail
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 August 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian 'prisoner of conscience' gets additional year in jail, 28 August 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5040b01f25.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 28, 2012
Jailed Belarusian activist Zmitser Dashkevich in court during his trial last year. svaboda.org (RFE/RL)
The jailed leader of the unregistered Young Front opposition organization, Zmitser Dashkevich, has received one additional year in prison.
An in camera trial hearing within the penitentiary in the eastern town of Hlybokaye on August 28 found Dashkevich guilty of a "systematic and aggressive refusal to follow instructions of the penitentiary administration.
The human rights watchdog Amnesty International has recognized Dashkevich as a "prisoner of conscience," jailed for his political views.
Last month, Amnesty urged Belarusian authorities to "stop the harassment" of Dashkevich.
Dashkevich was sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty in March 2011 of assaulting two people in Minsk in December 2010, one day before Belarus's disputed presidential election, which was followed by mass arrests of activists.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
