Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)  has started a campaign calling for release of the  Belarusian political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
Below you can see the full text of their statement:

CASE SUMMARY:

Zmitser Dashkevich, a 25-year old youth opposition activist, was jailed for 18 months on November 1, 2006 because of his participation in a youth pro-reform movement and accused of “organising or participating in an activity of an unregistered non-governmental organisation.” Although he was arrested on September 15, 2006, his parents, who are pensioners, were not allowed to see their son till the court session on November 1.  Zmitser is their only child.  On December 15, 2006, an appeal was rejected by the Minsk City Court and the original sentence of 18 months was upheld.

 

Zmitser, a student at Vilnius University, is an evangelical Christian, and has been an activist in the organization “Young Front” since 2001. Young Front is the largest national youth organisation, and was established in 1997. They are a reform movement fighting against the existing authoritarian regime, and have a strong Christian influence. He was appointed a co-leader of this organisation in 2005. He is also a member of the committee of the “Belarusian Democracy” party.  He was the recipient of human rights, from the Charter 97 initiative in 2006. Amnesty International considers Zmitser Dashkevich a prisoner of conscience.

 

Prayer

The 16th day of every month has been designated the “ International Day of Solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners, disappeared oppositionists and their families, journalists, and all who work for freedom and human rights in Belarus” You may wish to mark this day in your calendar as a reminder to pray.

 

·         Please, pray for the immediate and unconditional release of Zmitser Dashkevich.

·         Please also pray for his health, which has deteriorated in prison as he has been given the hardest physical assignments and as a result has suffered back problems. While in prison, he has been hospitalised at least once.

·         Pray for his elderly parents who have been told by the authorities that their son is a criminal.

 

ACTION:

 

• Please send letters of appeal for Zmitser’s immediate release to Belarusian authorities.  In your letter you might want to mention the following points:
  • The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which has been signed by Belarus. According to the articles 19, 21 and 22 of the ICCPR Belarusians are guaranteed the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association. 
  • Please, ask Belarusian government to allow “Young Front” to register legally and to allow them to continue their activity openly. 
  • Also you might ask for a revision of the Law on Public Associations adopted in August, 2005 to bring it into accordance with international norms. 
  • In the meantime, urge the Belarusian authorities to cease its harassment and persecution of civil society activists.

Please send your letters to:

President  Alyaksandr G. LUKASHENKA
ul. Karla Marxa 38
220016 Minsk
BELARUS
Fax: +375 172 26 06 10, +375 172 22 38 72


Procurator General
Petr P. MIKLASHEVICH
ul. Internatsionalnaia 22
220050 Minsk
BELARUS
Fax: +375 172 26 41 66


Minister of Internal Affairs
Vladimir V. NAUMOV
ul.Gorodskoi Val 4
220615 Minsk
BELARUS
Fax: +375 172 26 12 47

E-mail: miapress@nsys.by

 

You may also write a polite letter to the Belarusian Ambassador in your country. Express your concern at the imprisonment of Zmitser Dashkevich and request that the government release him from prison immediately.

 

H.E. Ambassador Aleksandr Mikhnevich

6 Kensington Court,

London W8 5DL

 

Fax 0207 361 00 05

 

Please write to your Member of Parliament at:

The House of Commons,
Westminster,
SW1A 0AA

or your MEP at:

The European Parliament,
rue Wiertz,
Brussels
B-1047,
Belgium.

(Call the Public Information Office on 0207 219 4272 to find out your MPs name and the EU Information Office on 0207 227 4300 for details of your MEPs).

Ask your MP to raise your concern for Zmitser Dashkevich with the Foreign Secretary and ask your MEP to raise the case in the appropriate international forums; you might suggest that your MEP write a letter to the Belarusian government or submit a question to the European Commission to enquire what action the EU has taken to support Zmitser.

 

You can receive more campaign and protest information by going to http://noise.amnesty.org/site/c.adKIIVNsEkG/b.2607861/k.61D9/Make_an_impact_Belarus/apps/ka/ct/contactcustom.asp

 

Please, write letters of encouragement directly to Zmitser and his family at  

 

Zmitser Dashkevich
IK No. 17
g. Shklou
Magileu Region 213004
Belarus

 

To his family at

Vyacheclau and Volga Dashkevich

ul. 8 Sakavika, h.37, flat # 6,

Staruya Darogi,

Minskaya vobl, 

Belarus,

222910 

 

Phone + 375 179 254 412