BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/01/2008

Belarusian Authorities Release Youth Leader Before End Of Sentence

Zmitser Dashkevich, the leader of the opposition Youth Front, was released on January 23 from a correctional facility in Shklou, Mahilyou Oblast, after serving 16 months of an 18-month term for heading an unregistered organization, RFE/RL's Belarus Service and Belapan reported. The prison's administration explained that a court ruled to reduce Dashkevich's sentence. Dashkevich was arrested on September 15, 2006, and sentenced at a closed-door trial. While serving his sentence, Dashkevich was also fined $870 for refusing to testify against another Youth Front activist. Amnesty International has declared Dashkevich a prisoner of conscience. Meanwhile, Homyel State University rector Alyaksandr Rahachou on January 22 signed a second order to expel Dzmitry Zhaleznichenka, a third-year mathematics student and a member of the Belarusian Popular Front, for violating the university's internal regulations, RFE/RL's Belarus Service and Belapan reported. The first expulsion order was based on similar accusations, but Zhaleznichenka, who has an excellent academic record at the university, appealed the decision at a Homyel district court. The court last week ordered the university to allow Zhaleznichenka to continue his studies. Zhaleznichenka claims that he has not behaved improperly in the current academic year, and considers the expulsion order politically motivated. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/01/3-cee/cee-240108.asp