Malady Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich was convicted one year ago

Zmitser Dashkevich, the leader of the Malady Front youth opposition group, was on November 1, 2006 convicted on charges of acting on behalf of an unregistered organization and sentenced to one year and a half in prison. The trial was held behind the closed doors. Dashkevich is serving his term in a general-security correctional colony in Shklou, Magilyou region. On August 14, a new criminal case was opened against the youth activist, reports Belapan.

Dashkevich is charged with refusing to testify in the criminal case against Ivan Shyla who was also accused of belonging to an unregistered group.

If convicted, Dashkevich is facing up to three years in prison. The trial is scheduled to take place on November 6. Amnesty International has declared Dashkevich as a prisoner of conscience.