A New Trial Behind Closed Doors For Zmitser Dashkevich

(October 30th, 2006, Minsk, Belarus)

The trial over the young activist Zmitser Dashkevich is scheduled for October 30. It is to be held behind closed doors, the human rights center Viasna informs. The case is to be considered by judge Ala Bulash, a deputy chairman of the court of Kastrychnitski district of Minsk. The reasons for holding a closed trial haven't been explained by the court representatives. Human rights activists are outraged at that.

- Firstly, the lawyer Valyanitsin Stefanovich says, - Dashkevich is charged under article 193 part 1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (activities on behalf of an unregistered organization), which violates his right for freedom of association. Secondly, they want to hold a process behind closed doors: without presence of journalists and a wide range of representatives of civil society. It's the style of Stalin times. We believe that he case has a public importance and that is why it should be open. We believe that in this way the authorities want to hide details of investigation methods. Investigative agencies had been summoning young people for interrogations, exerted pressure on activists. Once again we demand immediate release of Zmitser Dashkevich and state that his prosecution is politically motivated.