Maksim Dashuk released from remand prison and put under “house arrest”

Maksim Dashuk, participant of the Process of 14 and activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, was released from remand prison on February 24.

“A measure of restraint Maksim Dashuk is a recognisance not to leave and proper behaviour,” Maksim Dashuk’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka told the Charter’97 press center.

According to the lawyer, activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Maksim Dashuk is charged under Article 415 of the Criminal Code of Belarus allegedly for evasion of serving punishment, he received for participation in a protest rally of entrepreneurs. About five violations of serving sentence of restriction of liberty were recorded.

The minor activist had to work because of difficult financial standing of his family. Father of the oppositionist died in April 2008 ahead of trials in the Process of 14. Maksim Dashuk helped his mother with work. By this, according to militia, he violated the rules of serving punishment of restriction of liberty.

After the yesterday’s arrest Maksim Dashuk was released from remand prison today and put under “house arrest” until the trial.

Maksim Dashuk’s lawyer says the date of the trial is unknown. Until the trial, the participant of the Process of 14 continues serving punishment of restraint of liberty and must appear on demand of the investigation.

It should be reminded that 17-year old Maksim Dashuk was called in the Maskouski district militia department of Minsk, where he was charged with violation of the rules of serving punishment, he was sentenced to together with other oppositionists in last April for participation in protest rallies of entrepreneurs. On the same day the oppositionist was guarded to the remand prison of the city militia department of the Minsk city executive committee in Valadarski Street.

It should be noticed that the Case of 14 is a case under Article 342 of the Criminal Code of Belarus, instigated against participants of a peaceful protest demonstration of entrepreneurs, held in Minsk on January 10, 2008.

For participation in this rally youth activist Andrei Kim was sentenced to one and a half year in penal colony by the Central district court of Minsk. He was released in August 2008. Activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Alyaksandr Barazenka was sentenced to 1 year of restriction of liberty without sending him to a penal colony. He was kept in remand jail from October 27 to December 9 2008. Other participants of the Process of Fourteen – Alyaksei Bondar, Artsyom Dubski, Mikhal Kryvau, Mikhal Pashkevich, Ales Straltsou, Ales Charnyshou, Tatsyana Tsishkevich, Mikhail Subach and Paval Vinahradau, were sentenced to 2 years of restriction of freedom without sending them to penitentiary institutions. Minor Maxim Dashuk got 1.5 years of restraint of liberty. Now all of them in fact are under house arrest, under close surveillance, and can be imprisoned for any violation of rules at any moment.