Another criminal case has been initiated against Zmitser Dashkevich, the leader of international youth organisation Young Front (Czech Republic), for “gross disobedience of orders of correctional institution administration” (Art. 411 of Criminal Code), the state-owned TVchannel Belarus-1 reports. The information has been confirmed by the Investigation Committee for Vitsebsk region.
His fiancee Nasta Palazhanka, Deputy Head of Young Front, was well-equipped to face the reality. On July 10, 2012, during her visit to Hlybokaye penal colony, Palazhanka found out that the administration of penal colony №13 had transferred evidence materials concerning Zmitser Dashkevich to the Investigation Committee. Then Dashkevich’s fiancee published an open letter in which she accused Belarusian civil society of indifference to the political prisoners’ destinies.
Dashkevich’s defence lawyer is scheduled to meet up with his defendant on July, 20 and more detailed information on the criminal case’s opening is expected to be provided. Should Young Front leader be found guilty under the article, he would be sentenced to one more year of jail term.
Zmitser Dashkevich and another activist of the Young Front Eduard Lobau were detained on December 18, 2010. Opposition activists and human rights defenders consider this detention as part of police preventive action performed before the 2010 presidential election. Dashkevich and Lobau were adjudged guilty of especially malignant hooliganism (Article 339, part 3 of the Criminal Code). On March 24, 2011 Zmitser Dashkevich was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. In September, 2011 the activist was offered to file a petition for pardon addressed to Alexander Lukashenka but he rejected this proposal. According to the sentence, Dashkevich is to emerge from jail on December 18, 2012.
Belsat
