BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

31/10/2007

Belarusian Authorities Bring New Charges Against Youth Activists

Zmitser Dashkevich, a leader of the Youth Front organization, will stand trial on November 6 on new charges, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarusian Service reported on October 30. Dashkevich is already serving an 18-month term in a correctional facility in Shklou, Mahilyou Oblast, for running an unregistered organization. Under the new charges, authorities accuse Dashkevich of refusing to give testimony in a case against another Youth Front activist, Ivan Shyla. He could face a prison sentence of up to three years. Dashkevich maintains that the Belarusian Criminal Code gives him the right not to testify against himself or those close to him. Dashkevich's trial is to be held at the correctional facility where he is incarcerated. In a related case, the Prosecutor's Office in Mahilyou has charged Artur Finkevich, a Youth Front activist already serving a two-year term for spraying political graffiti, with violating the internal regulations of the correctional facility. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/10/3-cee/cee-311007.asp