Zmitser Dashkevich: “It’s worse in Akrestsin Street prison than in Valadarsky Street center or Shklou Colony”
- 9.04.2008, 16:40
The leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich was released from the special detention center in Akrestsin Street. He has spent 15 days there for participation in the peaceful rally on the holiday, Freedom Day. During the arrest Dashkevich was brutally beaten up, like many other participants of the rally. Photos of his face after riot policemen did that job on him, was published in newspapers all over the world. IN an interview to the Charter’97 press-center Zmitser Dashkevich told that riot policemen were beating him with fists and ankle boots.
Zmitser Dashkevich was released today at 2 p.m., four hours earlier the agreed time. His arrest was to end at 6.30 p.m. According to the activist, the regime has done that on purpose in order to prevent many people from meeting him.
Recalling his arrest on March 25, Zmitser Dashkevich tells in an interview to the Charter’97 press-center:
“Essentially, I do not remember such a detention. Actions of riot policemen were so cruel and rough that it looks like their actions were quieter during the crackdown on October Square in March 2006. And here direct orders on walkie-talkie were to beat all. Padabed was shouting: “Seize this scum! Seize these four-letter men!”
We tried to move towards Victory Square, like policemen said us. But later they started to arrest us. Maybe policemen were playing for time, waiting for riot policemen to arrive? It was awful. Girls, women were clubbed, kicked. They were beating them on faces by their heads! We were pushed at each other, thrown on the top of each other and into the bus. People were yelling. There were so many people that one could suffocate…
If earlier policemen tried not to act brutally arresting somebody when there were journalists around, and beat people surreptitiously in buses, on March 25 they were beating people both in buses and on the street. I was beaten by fists on the face, so I had huge bruises. Riot policemen beat on my sides, kicked me on my legs with their ankle boots with metal pieces. After that my legs were blue,” Zmitser Dashkevich said.
As said by Zmitser Dashkevich, conditions in the remand prison on Akrestsin Street were very difficult.
“It is much worse in Akrestsin Street detention center as compared to the conditions in the remand prison in Valadarski Street or Shklou colony. It is not allowed to bring food parcels, and even sleeping bags. And it is a violation of the law! It is cold to sleep on a plank bed without a sleeping bed, and it’s extremely uncomfortable. We were awfully short of food; food was very bad. In the morning and in the afternoon were given a serving spoon of brokens or buckwheat. There were 10 of us in the cell. First we were together with Artur Finkevich, and then we were placed to different cells,” the young leader told.
Commenting on the brutal crackdown on the rally on March 25, the Young Front leader said:
“The regime has used its usual tactics. By forcible disband they have demonstrated that all previous moves for democratization were a game. The regime is not going to change their ways. The rally on Freedom Day has demonstrated the cruel, terroristic character of the Belarusian regime. But our struggle for free and democratic Belarus will to go on”.
This is the way Zmitser Dashkevich was detained on March 25