"Think about him at least 15 seconds - he has been defending human rights for 15 years"

Belarus. Minsk.
Honoring Ales Bialiatski (Алесь Бяляцкі).

hs.fi (Helsingin Sanomat) 24.11.2011.

Statement from Viasna.

Jerzy Buzek, European Parliament, condems sentencing of Bialiatski


"Valko-Venäjä on tuominnut ihmisoikeusaktivisti Ales Bialiatskin neljäksi ja puoleksi vuodeksi vankeuteen veronkierrosta. Lisäksi Bialiatskin johtaman Viasna-järjestön omaisuus määrättiin takavarikkoon.

Bialiatski on ollut näkyvästi mukana presidentti Aleksandr Lukashenkon vastaisissa mielenosoituksissa. Hänet pidätettiin elokuun alussa.

Ihmisoikeusjärjestöt ovat moittineet syytteitä tekaistuiksi. Myös EU on vaatinut Bialiatskin vapauttamista."

http://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/Valko-Ven%C3%A4j%C3%A4+langetti+pitk%C3%A4n+tuomion+ihmisoikeusaktivistille/a1305550006515


Statement by members of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” on the sentence to Ales Bialiatski


"We, the members of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, consider the sentence as a reprisal against our colleague, a revenge for his many years of human rights activities, as well as a desire to destroy our organization and to intimidate the entire human rights movement in Belarus.

From the outset of Ales Bialiatski’s detention on August 4, the investigators were engaged in gross violations of the Belarusian law. In particular, Ales Bialiatski was illegally subjected to personal restraint. Having refused to address the foundations that transferred money to Ales Bialiatski to inquire on its intended purpose, the investigation ignored the corresponding instructions from the Prosecutor's Office, rather than attempting to establish the truth of the case."

Read more:

http://spring96.org/en/news/47644

Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament, condemns the sentencing of human rights activist Ales Byalyatski and calls on the Belarusian authorities to release him.

http://spring96.org/en/news/47674

Photo: Kerstin Lindén (opposition's flag from Minsk)