Civil society all over the world celebrates the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Ales Bialiatski
Viasna Chairman Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2022 together with the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties and the Russian human rights organization Memorial. Bialiatski was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the sixth time this year. He became the fourth person to receive the prize while in prison or in detention.
The Nobel Committee's decision was welcomed by both Belarus and the international community. Congratulations to Ales Bialiatski and reactions to receiving this outstanding award continue to come from all over the world.
Viasna lawyer Pavel Sapelka: “This is a reward for decades of selfless struggle for human rights”
- Pavel Sapelka and Ales Bialiatski
“The news about the Peace Prize to Ales and our colleagues from Memorial and Center for Civil Liberties is simply fantastic, it is international recognition of the achievements of human rights defenders in general and Ales in particular.It is a manifestation of solidarity and a message of support for human rights values for the whole world. This prize is a reward for decades of Ales’s selfless struggle for human rights, for democratic values, for the revival of the Belarusian nation,” said Pavel Sapelka.
2015 Nobel Literature prize winner Svetlana Alexievich: “Bilaliatski has deserved the Nobel Prize a long time ago”
- Svetlana Alexievich, the winner of the 2015 Nobel Literature price, is now joined by Ales Bialiatski as a Nobel laureate.
“I consider Bialiatski a mythological figure of the Belarusian struggle. To say that he deserved it would be not enough. The prize was his for a long time.
What Viasna continues to do in these conditions is very much inspired by his philosophy. I am very glad.I know that Ales is seriously ill. We all should keep saying that he must be free and be with his people.It is difficult to imagine what the authorities will do to him, but such a person cannot be in prison — this is a humiliation for both the people and the authorities themselves if they understand that,” stressed Nobel Literature Prize laureate Svetlana Alexievich.
Human rights activist Nabil Rajab: “Great news for all human-rights defenders!”
Bahraini human rights defender
Nabeel Rajab commented on the event on his Twitter: “Great news for all human-rights defenders and organizations around the world.Congratulations!”
Ales Bialiatski’s wife Natallia Pinchuk: “It's a reward for hard and dangerous work”
- Ales Bialiatski met his wife Natallia Pinchuk 40 years ago.
“The news caused me great confusion because it is all completely unexpected. Ales' name was not mentioned at any point, there was not even any hope or talk about it. Unexpected, but joyful news. Certainly, now I am very proud, I have a very big range of feelings. It is a reward for his and his fellows' hard and dangerous work. And I am very grateful to those who were involved in this award.I understand that now we have to congratulate him, send him telegrams. Of course, he will be even more surprised by this news, but without a doubt, it will make him happy. I plan to send him a telegram and tell him everything", said Natallia Pinchuk.
President of France Emmanuel Macron: “They know they can count on France's support”
“Ales Bialiatski in Belarus, the NGO Memorial in Russia, the Centre for Civil Liberties in Ukraine—the Nobel Peace Prize pays tribute to some of Europe's staunch defenders of human rights. As peacemakers, they know they can count on France's support.” the President of France posted on Twitter.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Belarus has got one more Nobel laureate who opposes dictatorship and war”
- Ales Bialiatski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
“This is great news! Ales Bialiatsky is the pride of Belarusians. Now the whole world knows about him. Belarus has got one more Nobel laureate who opposes dictatorship and war.
I congratulate Ales and his family on this award. I am sure that this is a very important message of support for them. At the same time, this award is also an acknowledgment of the efforts of all Belarusian human rights defenders in ensuring peace and human rights. That's why I congratulate everyone who has chosen this as their life's work.
Unfortunately, Ales did not learn about the awarding of the Nobel Prize as quickly as we did. He will not come to Oslo with the Nobel speech, because like thousands of Belarusians Ales Bialiatski is behind bars on political grounds. This is the second time he has been recognized as a political prisoner. And this demonstrates that the regime is a threat to the peace and freedom of the Belarusian people.
It is not the first time that a person, imprisoned for political reasons, gets a peace prize. But this is the first time that entire Belarus is proud of a Nobel Prize winner in prison. I am sure that those who are responsible for repression against Ales and thousands of innocent people will soon remain in the obscure past. And it is heroes like Ales Bialiatski who will make history,” commented Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the award.
Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Berit Reiss-Andersen: “This year's laureates renewed and honored the vision of peace and brotherhood between peoples”
The Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Berit Reiss-Andersson said: “Through their consistent efforts in favor of humanist values, anti-militarism, and principles of law, this year’s laureates have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobel’s vision of peace and fraternity between nations – a vision most needed in the world today.”
She has also called on the Belarusian authorities to release Ales Bialiatski from prison so that he could come to Oslo and accept the award in person. The committee expressed the hope that the award would boost the morale of the human rights defender.
Chairman of Östgruppen Martin Uggla: “So well deserved!”
- Ales Bialiatski and Martin Uggla
“Ales, my friend! So well deserved! Congratulations!” wrote Martin Uggla, chairman of Östgruppen, the Swedish Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Mary Lawlor: “It's time for the Belorussian authorities to release Bialiatski.”
“Congratulations to imprisoned Human Rights Defender Ales Bialiatski in Belarus and HRDs at Memorial in Russia and Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine for winning the Nobel Peace Prize 2022. It's time for the Belorussian authorities to release Bialiatski. It's time for the Belorussian authorities to release Bialiatski. said the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders and founder of Front Line Defenders Mary Lawlor.
US Embassy in Belarus: “Be proud, Belarus!”
“We congratulate Ales Bialiatski, winner of the 2022 NobelPeacePrize! The work he and Viasna have done in an incredibly hostile environment to defend and support human rights in Belarus has made a tremendous difference to so many Belarusians, and to the world. Be proud, Belarus!” reads the embassy’s tweet.
European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič: “Stay strong, Ales”
“My wholehearted congratulations to Ales Bialiatski for the Nobel Peace Prize. I call on the authorities in Belarus to immediately release him and all other political prisoners. Stay strong, Ales!”— tweeted Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, in charge of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. European Emergency Response Coordinator.
Viasna human rights defender Siarhei Sys: “The Nobel Prize to Bialiatski brings recognition to all Viasna members”
- Siarhei Sys and Ales Bialiatski have not only been working together for many years but have also become good friends.
“What we are doing for our country is now recognized at a high level. This award will give support not only to Ales, but also to Uladzimir Labkovich, Valiantsin Stefanovich, Leanid Sudalenka, and all Viasna members who are now in prison. I had to call three different people as I couldn't believe it. Then I just cried from happiness. Our Belarus is a small country, but we've already got two Nobel prizes. The prize is a great achievement of Ales, who is not just a human rights defender, he is a pillar, he is an expert on culture, writer, and a patriot of Belarus,” commented Siarhei Sys.
FIDH President Alice Mogwe: “It is the prize of resistance”
“This prize is the prize of resistance. Resistance against totalitarianism, against all attempts to silence the voices of those who dare to stand up and denounce human rights violations,” said Alice Mogwe, President of FIDH. “This award honors us and gives us an additional responsibility to continue to support our organizations and to continue the fight for a world where the dignity and human rights of all are respected.”
The human rights defender was also congratulated by the UN Office in Belarus, the Right Livelihood Foundation, the Swedish-German human rights organization Libereco, Amnesty International, Civic Solidarity Platform, and other concerned organizations and individuals from Belarus and around the world.
