Dmitry "Zmitser" Vyachaslavavich Dashkevich (Belarusian: Дзмі́трый «Змі́цер» Вячасла́вавіч Дашке́віч; Russian: Дми́трий Вячесла́вович Дашке́вич; born July 20, 1981, in Yelsk District, Gomel Region) is a Belarusian politician and former leader of the unregistered youth opposition movement Young Front (from 2004 to 2017).[1]
In November 2006, Dashkevich was found guilty of "illegal political activity" by a Belarusian court and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Amnesty international (AI) declared him a prisoner of conscience, and the U.S. government condemned the verdict.[2]
In March 2011, he and fellow Young Front activist Eduard Lobau were found guilty of assault one day in advance of a disputed presidential election.[1] The Young Front activists stated that the case against them was politically motivated.[3] Dashkevich was sentenced to two years in prison, and Lobau to four. AI again named the pair prisoners of conscience.[1]
According to AI, Dashkevich was offered a presidential pardon in September 2011 if he would confess his guilt, but he refused.[4] On 18 July 2012, Belarusian authorities announced that a new investigation had been opened against Dashkevich for his "systematic and aggressive refusal to follow the instructions of the penitentiary administration."[1] On 28 August 2012, Dashkevich was found guilty in an in camera trial, and another year was added to his prison sentence.[5] On 30 October, a court ordered Dashkevich's transfer to a maximum security prison. Human Rights Watch reported that he "was being subjected to routine prison abuse, including verbal abuse, arbitrary punishments, and threats of torture, rape, and murder".[6]
As of September 2011, Dashkevich was engaged to another Young Front activist, Nasta Palazhanka.[7] The two married when Palazhanka visited him in Hrodno prison on 26 December 2012. Authorities stated that the couple would be allowed one more two-hour visit before Dashkevich's release, scheduled for August 2013.[8]
He was released on August 28, 2013, after having completed his sentence.[9]
On April 23, 2022, Dashkevich was detained after a search of his apartment. On July 14, 2022, the Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk sentenced him to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony. Viasna Human Rights Centre recognizes Dashkevich as a political prisoner.[10]
