Nasta Palazhanka and Zmitser Dashkevich get married (photo)

The marriage has allowed them to meet for the first time in two years. A meeting in Hrodna prison means two hours separated by toughened glass. Nasta Palazhanka who has become Nasta Dashkevich thinks that this is a Christmas miracle and a great victory.

“We tried to get married several times. But we couldn't do it - they either refused us or transferred Zmitser to another place or found some other reasons," Nasta  Dashkevich says.

A formal obstacle was preventing them from getting married for over a year - Zmitser did not get his passport back after the trial. Nasta found the document in KBG - the investigator had it. But it did not help.

Nasta Dashkevich: “They showed me Dashkevich belongings and there were his backpack and passport. Nobody wanted to send the passport to colony - they understood why we needed it. We had been complaining for more than 6 months about it. The Prosecutor General's Office replied that "it was impossible to locate the passport". We took that letter and asked the colony to restore the prisoner's passport."

When the passport was restored there were  lot of delays and cancellations until Nasta got the date from the registry office: December 19.

Nasta Dashkevich: “I think that this is a real miracle. The wedding had to be organized on December 19. I presented all the papers on December 12 and they said that the wedding would be on December 19. I  felt some tension at first as it had to be the following week and I had a cold. Moreover, December 19 is one of the most tragic dates in our life. But the situation changed - they phoned me and said that there would be no wedding on December 19 because it was the Day of the Registry Office. It was postponed until December 26."

Nasta could not believe it until the last moment. She expected a cancellation or a delay again.

Nasta Dashkevich: “I came to Hrodna registry office, gave them my passport and made sure that everything was okay. They put a stamp in my passport - it said that Dashkevich was my husband. I joked that Dashkevich would not have any choice!.. Then we headed for Hrodna prison."

 

Nasta was ready for an unpleasant surprise - the prison employees were very slow checking all the papers...

Nasta Dashkevich: “I entered the room first and they told me to wait for Zmitser. He entered, put off his hat and said "Fancy that!" He probably expected to see his lawyer and learn that we had been refused again... We approached the table and the registry office employee made a standard speech. They asked me what surname I would like to have. I chose Dashkevich! And he was very happy! I joked that the regime used to have one problem - one Dashkevich. And now the regime had two problems. The colony representatives were our witnesses. Zmitser joked that we would celebrate the anniversary together the following year because we had become one family with them. Everyone laughed!"

Nasta says that the ceremony was very short. The registration took 5 minutes. And they were allowed to spend 5 minutes together. Then the prison employees apologized and led Dashkevich out. If it were Dashkevich's previous colony, they could spend three days together. But they will only be allowed to meet for 2 hours separated by see-through glass in this colony. For some reason, the meeting was postponed because "a written request was needed..."

Nasta kept looking at her loved-one for all the 10 minutes –  she had seen him only twice in two years - during the trial and at the funeral of Zmitser's mother.

Nasta Dashkevich: “I was shocked. Zmitser had not changed at all. He was the same person whom I had seen two years ago. I could not believe that he had undergone severe trials. I recognized his loving look... He was very thin and pale. He was shaved bald - although he had written that he would try to grow longer hair before the wedding. But they told him that they would put handcuffs on him and force him to shave his head."

The status of "Dashkevich's fiancée" has finally changed to "wife". What other benefits does it bring?

Nasta Dashkevich:  “It was the only chance to see him. And it is the best Christmas present for us. We are husband and wife from now on. I had a chance to touch him. Now I have the right for a few short meetings  with him."

Nasta did not put on a wedding dress - it is inconvenient in prison where the groom is wearing a prison uniform. And the real wedding is still ahead.

Nasta Dashkevich: “It is an important step but the real wedding is ahead. We want a church wedding ceremony."

The wedding was secret - Nasta did not tell anyone about it. Even her father got to know about it according to actual fact.

Nasta Dashkevich: “My father guessed about it. I phoned him and said that I was returning from Hrodna without the lawyer. He asked me: "How is Dzima?.." I told him that Dzima was shining. I showed the weeding certificate and my father congratulated me. Dzima asked my father for permission to marry me in his letters and he allowed it."

Nasta was calm during the ceremony. There was only one moment that made her tremble.

Nasta Dashkevich: “It struck me that the fairy tale was over when they started leading him out. There is still time before August."

Zmitser Dashkevich had to be released on December 18, 2012. However, he was announced "a repeated troublemaker" and one more year in a top-security prison was added to his term.

Zmitser Dashkevich was arrested on December 18, 2010 and accused of beating strangers. He was imprisoned for 2 years. Nasta Palazhanka was caught the following day (December 19, 2010) after the Square and spent 2 months in KGB prison. She was sentenced to one year of imprisonment with a 1-year respite.