Dashkevich may face stricter police supervision

Zmitser Dashkevich, a co-chairman of Young Front, has been warned about a possible extension and toughening the preventive supervision.

“I visit the corrections department of Minsk's Pershamaiski district every first, third and fourth Thursday. An inspector gave me a notice today saying that the preventive supervision will be extended and toughened if I continue to resist police officers,” Dashkevich told BelaPAN.

The politician was sentenced to three days in custody on November 6 for disobeying the police. He was collecting signatures near Minsk's department store for returning the historical name (Frantsyskanskaya) to Lenin Street. He was detained by the police. Two policemen gave their evidence in a court. They said Dashkevich “resisted them, sat down on the ground and disobeyed their lawful orders”.

The politician said to the inspector he had been found guilty on the ground of the fabricated police report.

Dashkevich says the warning of the Pershamaiksi district police department is “continuation of the course of persecuting dissidents”. On August 28, Dashkevich was released from Hrodna prison No. 1 after a three-year term. He was arrested ahead of the latest presidential election, on December 18, 2010. He was charged with “hooliganism” and then with “persistent failure to obey prison officers”.

Dashkevich will remain under preventive supervision for six months since the release. He must remain at home from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.