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MEP Marek Migalski writes to Belarusian prosecutor general over pressure on imprisoned activist Zmitser Dashkevich

European Parliament member Marek Migalski has written to Belarusian Prosecutor General Alyaksandr Kanyuk to express concern over the fate of imprisoned opposition activist Zmitser Dashkevich, who may have his sentence extended by another year.

In his open letter, the Polish MEP accuses the administration of Correctional Institution No. 13 in Hlybokaye, Vitsyebsk region, where Mr. Dashkevich is serving his two-year prison sentence, of putting pressure on the 31-year-old activist.

According to Mr. Migalski, the activist has spent much of his prison time in disciplinary cells and has recently been charged with persistently disobeying the prison administration’s orders, a charge that may lead to the extension of his prison sentence by one year.

The Polish politician condemns the treatment of Mr. Dashkevich by the prison administration as “pressure, torture and brutal treatment” and calls for an end to the harassment of the activist.

Mr. Migalski warns that the Belarusian authorities have been obliged by international treaties to protect prisoners from physical and psychological harm, while any forms of torture and cruel treatment are banned by the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Belarus has ratified. //BelaPAN