Dashkevich family convicted

Today, July 14, 2022, Judge Tatsiana Pirozhnikava announced the verdict of the political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich and his wife Nasta Dashkevich, finding them guilty under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (participation in actions that grossly violate public order).

On July 11, in the Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk state prosecutor Yeliskevich requested 18 months of imprisonment for both political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich and his wife Nasta Dashkevich. The judge sentenced Zmitser to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony, and Nasta to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement. Zmitser and Nasta were accused of participating in the protest on August 23, 2020. They pleaded guilty in full. Zmitser has been behind bars since late April, and Nasta recently gave birth to their fourth child. The terms requested by the prosecutor were a body blow to Zmitser and Nasta and caused a public outcry.

Zmitser Dashkevich is a political activist and a leader of the Belarusian youth movement Young Front. He has been participating in public and political life since 2001.

Zmitser was detained on April 23, 2022, after a search of his apartment. At first, he was arrested for 15 days under an administrative charge and re-detained in a criminal case under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (group activities that grossly violate public order).

Zmitser Dashkevich has been recognized as a political prisoner in 2006 and 2011. In 2006 Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience.