Religious violations in Belarus continue, warns Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Zmitser Dashkevich, the 26-year-old pro-democracy activist imprisoned in 2006 in Belarus, has been unexpectedly released after his 18 month prison term was shortened to a year.

On 1 November 2006, Zmitser was jailed for involvement in a youth pro-reform movement and charged with "organising or participating in the activity of an unregistered non-governmental organisation".

He was also fined the equivalent of £412 in November 2007 for refusing to reveal the names of his friends in the Young Front movement, prompting a European Commission statement urging the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners.

Zmitser's release coincides with the publication of a report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) on freedom of religion in Belarus. The report, released this month, gives a detailed analysis of the gross violations taking place on a daily basis and calls on the international community to recognise the targeting of religious minorities. It also urges Belarus to respect human rights and the freedoms of expression and assembly.

CSW's Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, "While pleased that Zmitser Dashkevich has been released, he and many in Belarus like him should not have been detained in the first place.

"We remain gravely concerned at the severe and continuing violations of fundamental rights of Christians in the country, as is evident from our latest report."

Citing the frequent violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Belarus is a party, the report explains how religious freedom is restricted both directly and indirectly by the authorities.

NGOs, religious institutions and religious leaders are subject to frequent harassment, prosecution, fines, repression and even imprisonment under the terms of the 2002 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations.

Over the past eighteen months, two pastors and one human rights defender were arrested for so-called unregistered activities, a practice not heard of since the fall of the Soviet Union.

"We urge the international community, and particularly the European Union, to recognise the scale of violations of the rights of religious minorities that is currently underway in the very heart of Europe," Mr Thomas.

"It is vital that the Belarus authorities begin to engage in meaningful dialogue with civil society activists like Zmitser, and to respect the international agreements to which they are subject."