Amnesty International is expressing concern over the new probe launched by Belarusian authorities of the jailed leader of the unregistered Young Front opposition organization, Zmitser Dashkevich.
The human rights watchdog already recognizes Dashkevich as a "prisoner of conscience," jailed for his political views.
Belarus authorities said on July 18 that investigations had been launched into Dashkevich’s alleged “systematic and aggressive refusal to follow instructions of the penitentiary administration.”
If convicted, Dashkevich could receive another year in jail.
In a statement on July 19, Amnesty International urged Belarus authorities to “stop the harassment" of Dashkevich.
Dashkevich was sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty in March, 2011, of assaulting two people in Minsk in December 2010, one day before Belarus' disputed presidential election that resulted in the mass arrests of activists.
The human rights watchdog already recognizes Dashkevich as a "prisoner of conscience," jailed for his political views.
Belarus authorities said on July 18 that investigations had been launched into Dashkevich’s alleged “systematic and aggressive refusal to follow instructions of the penitentiary administration.”
If convicted, Dashkevich could receive another year in jail.
In a statement on July 19, Amnesty International urged Belarus authorities to “stop the harassment" of Dashkevich.
Dashkevich was sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty in March, 2011, of assaulting two people in Minsk in December 2010, one day before Belarus' disputed presidential election that resulted in the mass arrests of activists.
