26.11.2011 On Ales Belyatski's Sentence: Statement by International Society 'Memorial'

"The true cause of this criminal case is Ales Belyatski's human rights work in Belarus", says a statement by the Russia-based International Society 'Memorial' released on 24 November.

26.11.2011 UN Panel Criticizes Belarus Over Prisoner Torture

A UN human rights panel has criticized Belarus over what it called "numerous and consistent allegations of widespread torture and ill-treatment of detainees."

26.11.2011 Saint Petersburg police detain participants of picket in support of Ales Bialiatski

Activists of the Russian Memorial human rights NGO Anna Udyarova and Filipp Kostenko were detained by the police while staging a picket of solidarity with Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski outside the Belarusian Consulate Department in Saint Petersburg on 25 November.

26.11.2011 Human rights defenders join in global campaign of support to Ales Bialiatski

On 25 November, activists of numerous FIDH members across the world staged pickets of solidarity with the imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski, following a 4.5-year verdict pronounced by Minsk court on 24 November. Cities covered by the campaign include Paris, Brussels, Stockholm, Helsinki, Buenos-Aires, Ankara, Saint Petersburg, Yerevan, Bishkek, Tbilisi, Zagreb, etc.

26.11.2011 Open letter to President Lukashenko by FIDH President

Mr. President,

I am writing to you to call for the immediate and unconditional release of and the dropping of all charges against the FIDH Vice-President Mr. Ales Bialiaski, also President of the Human Rights Center «Viasna», who was sentenced yesterday by the Pervomaiski District Court of Minsk to 4,5 years of strict regime detention and confiscation of his property, including the offices of «Viasna» on charges of « serious tax evasion ».