Dashkievich starts hunger strike in punishment cell

Dzmitry Dashkievich imprisoned in the Mazyr reformatory has been on a hunger strike for six days.

According to deputy chairperson of Malady Front Nastassia Palazhanka, the convict was again thrown to a punishment cell. On 26 September Nastassia together with Dzmitry’s lawyer visited the Mazyr reformatory where Dzmitry Dashkievich has been kept since 19 September, Radio Svaboda reports.

“Right now all I can say is that, as Dzmitry told us, it is much worse here than in the reformatory in Gorki. Humiliations, pressure and chasing – which has, according to Dzmitry, religious motives - have begun right after he came there. On 21 September Dzmitry started a hunger strike. We also know that he is kept in a punishment cell. The administration told us that Dzmitry will suffer the consequences if this information reaches the media. But I only see it as a threat that should be dealt with. The rest of the information will come tomorrow in a press-release.”

Dzmitry Dashkievich was charged with alleged hooliganism and convicted to a 2-year prison term one day before the presidential elections 2010. His release was planned for December this year, but in August he was sentenced to one more year in a reformatory for disobeying the administration. Further he was transferred from Glubokaie to the reformatory in Mazyr.