Father's Day in Belarus: five stories about political prisoners who are fathers of many children

Father's Day is celebrated in Belarus today. Meanwhile, there are almost 30 political prisoners across the country who are fathers of many children. While they are waiting for the investigation and serving sentences for political reasons, their children grow up without fathers: often mothers are forced to emigrate with them to avoid political persecution. Today we are sharing several stories of such families.

Uladz Labkovich, human rights activist, father of three children

Uladz with his wife Nina and their daughter

Uladzimir Labkovich is a lawyer for Viasna, coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign. He joined the work of the human rights center in 1998 as a volunteer, and after the presidential elections in 2001 he became a full member of Viasna. During his imprisonment, Uladz's health deteriorated significantly. He complains of frequent headaches and insomnia.

Uladz and his wife Nina have three children: the eldest girl, Adelia, as well as two twin boys — Adam and Yan. Uladz wrote his children a fairy tale as a birthday present. Nina Labkovich told Viasna that Vlad writes very touching letters to his daughter, "his princess." 

Andrei Liubetski, doctor, father of four children 

Andrei Liubetski is a doctor. He worked for 18 years at the Children's hospital No. 4 in Minsk as a jaw surgeon. The man was a volunteer near the detention center at Akrescina. Andrei has four children. All of them do taekwondo.

Andrei's wife Natallia Liubetskaya was forced to leave the country with her children. The man was sentenced to five years of imprisonment.

Zmitser Dashkevich, activist, believer, father of four children 

Zmitser Dashkevich is an activist, one of the leaders of the youth opposition movement Young Front. He has been involved in public and political life since 2001, and in recent years has devoted a lot of time to protecting Kurapaty (a memory site in the outskirts of Minsk where NKVD executions took place). Judge Tatsiana Pirozhnikava found the political prisoner and his wife, who had recently gave birth to their fourth child, guilty and sentenced Zmitser to a year and a half in a penal colony, and Nastsia to three years of home confinement. The child was born in the Dashkevich family when Zmitser had been held in a pre-trial detention centre for three months.

"Our son was born at 6.50 am today. His full name will be Daniil. As Dad wanted. And the shortened version is Nil. As Mom wanted. The baby arrived a bit early and now he will be cared for by doctors for some time. And I'm recovering from surgery. But everyone is alive and well, thank God!" wrote Nasta.

Zmitser Dashkevich with his family. This photo was published by the security forces after the detention of the activist

This is the fourth child in the family: the Dashkevich have two more daughters, Mara and Mahdalena, and a son, David. Later, Zmitser was tried several more times. As a result, his term was three years and nine months in a penal colony. 

Mikalai Roi, engineer, father of four children

Mikalai Roi graduated from Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics as a systems engineer. For a long time he worked at Beltelecom in his field. The man has four children. Recently Mikalai lived in Brest. He was convicted in the Haidukevich case to 12 years in a penal colony. 

Siarhei Volkau, actor, father of three children

Siarhei Volkau is an actor of the Polesskiy Drama Theater and a volunteer. He is known in Pinsk as an organizer of cultural events and a volunteer at the city hospital; he is raising a child with a disability (cerebral palsy) — his son Viktar. He has three children. Siarhei was charged in the case on mass riots (Part 2 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced to four years of imprisonment. While the father was in a pre-trial detention centre, his son needed treatment (rehabilitation, health resorts, supportive therapy), and the family was paying off a loan. The younger Miraslau goes to school. Siarhei was an inspiration for his sons, apart from this he helped Viktor a lot to move around, swim, and so on.