Help Free Zmitser Dashkevich, Prisoner of Conscience in Belarus

Amnesty International have appealed for help in securing the release of Zmitser Dashkevich, aged 25, a leader of opposition youth movement "Young Front". He is serving an 18 month prison sentence "for organising and participating in an activity of an unregistered non-governmental organisation”.

"Amnesty International considers Zmitser Dashkevich to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression, and is calling for his immediate and unconditional release".

There is further information and how you can help here .

Amnesty is asking that messages of support and cards be sent for Zmitser's 26th Birthday which will take place on the 20th July.

As has been highlighted by Jonathan Fryer, human rights abuses continue in Belarus and opposition politicians are frequently denied the right to dissent.

Free Chen Guangcheng

Regular readers of my old blog Liberal Legend (Mark 1) will recall that I highlighted the case of blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng who was jailed for leading protests against forced abortion and sterilisation in Shandong Province, China.

Sadly it appears that, much as expected, Chen has suffered beatings in prison at the hands of fellow prisoners according to a BBC report for daring to try to appeal against his conviction on trumped up charges.

Amnesty International has declared Chen Guangcheng a prisoner of conscience. The Chinese authorities should free him as he is yet another example of corrupt local officialdom abusing the human rights of fellow citizens.

It is long overdue for the Chinese Government to realise that for as long as local officials do not have to face competition for their posts through genuinely open and competitive election by their fellow citizens they will abuse their powers. The time for the Fifth Modernisation is long overdue.