На русском языке:
Змитра Дашкевича приговорили к 1,5 годам колонии, его жену Настю – к 3 годам домашней химии
На беларускай мове:
Змітру Дашкевічу прысудзілі 1,5 года калоніі, яго жонцы Насце — 3 гады хатняй хіміі
Judge Tattsiana Pirozhnikava found them guilty under part 1 of Art.342 of the Criminal Code (participating in actions that grossly violate public order) for taking part in a rally on August 23, 2020.
Zmitser Dashkevich has been in custody since March 23. On June 15 Nasta gave birth to a son Daniil, he’s the fourth child in the family, Nasha Niva writes.
During the trial, Zmitser Dashkevich gave an impressing speech:
Dashkevich family / Photo: Archives of Zmitser and Nasta Dashkevich
«Of course, I understood what was coming, but what I heard from the prosecutor was beyond comprehension.
Jesus gave us the authority to absolve or punish a person’s sins. What sin should it be that they want to put a mother of four children, of a premature newborn, into prison?
I sometimes wonder what these people are thinking of when they request sentences. It would be easier if we saw animals in front of us. But they walk around smiling. The investigators who make these cases apologize, smile, bring sweets at the closing of the case.
Last year I was standing there, when a girl came up to me with tears in her eyes. She said, «I found out you are standing here, so I came to apologize.» I didn’t understand what she was saying. She said, «In 2004 my father sentenced you to 14 days of arrest, do you remember?» And I remember it very well, because it was the only time I was sentenced to 14 days of arrest. And then, 17 years later, the judge’s daughter came up to me and said, «I’m sorry.»
Probably, one of the most touching moments in these more than 20 years. I didn’t get a chance to ask her, but she must have been talking to her dad, dad have been thinking about it for all these years.
By sentencing me to 14 days, he understood that he was doing lawlessness. Even 14 days, although at that moment I would not have been very upset with 14 years. And here we are requesting a year and a half for a mother with a newborn in her arms.
Dashkevich family / Photo: Archives of Zmitser and Nasta Dashkevich
What is happening now is impossible to understand. When during my arrest they beat me in front of my pregnant wife and said, «What does this man say? Make him speak normally. Make him speak normally.»
When they were driving me in the car, that GUBOP officer said, «I would destroy you only for what you to with children…» I said, «Look, what am I doing wrong?» He said, «Well, you write letters, we found the letters, we attached them to the criminal case.»
They found letters that our children wrote to Mariya Kalesnikava – «Masha, we pray for you, we love you.» This is a crime – children write letters to political prisoners.
When I was arrested on Akrestsina under a criminal case, GUBOP officers were also laughing, «your wife will give birth in prison.» I thought it was the scariest day of my life, but today is probably even scarier.
Nastachka, I’m sorry I involved you in this. I could never have imagined that this could happen to us. I kept thinking that I was carrying this cross, but I couldn’t think in a terrible dream that I would put this cross on you. Forgive me for thinking so little of you.
I love you and pray for you and for our children, for our premature Daniil [crying]. You are a holy woman. I don’t know anyone like you. I’m sorry I let you down.
Dashkevich family / Photo: Archives of Zmitser and Nasta Dashkevich
I don’t understand what’s going on. People with a law degree believe that a criminal is someone who has come out against violence, not someone who commits violence. They consider a criminal to be someone who wants the truth, not someone who says «sometimes it’s not about the law.»
I hope for God’s will, although I don’t understand what’s going on, I’ll tell you this.
There is no doubt that such a system can exist. I just wish you, judges, prosecutors, to think about your soul. I always say during trials (even though it makes no sense): Jesus Christ says: What will you give for your soul when the day of judgment comes?
What will you give for your soul if there is a real judgment? You have called yourself judgement. God calls himself judgment. God’s name is judge. And I answer: the judge came and judged me justly for going out on the August 23 with my children and handing out Prayer for Belarus booklets, handing out Bibles.
On the day of true judgment, you will give nothing for your soul. And God bless that your children or you will come in 17 years, or in 17 months, and say, «I’m sorry.»
And God knows I don’t wish any harm for any of you. Just think a little bit about what you’re doing, if there’s anything you wouldn’t do if you were told to, if there are any boundaries for you.»
