Nobel laureate Bialiatski’s condition worsens after 1,000 days in Belarusian prison, his wife says
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist Ales Bialiatski marked his 1,000th day in prison in Belarus on Tuesday amid increasing fears about his deteriorating health, his wife said. Natalia Pinchuk told The Associated Press that Bialiatski has remained in solitary confinement for the past half year despite his chronic illnesses.
“I have learned from people who left the prison that Ales’ condition is continuing to worsen and he’s not receiving certain medicines that he needs,” Pinchuk said.
She urged the United Nations to “act more actively” to help the 61-year-old Bialiatski, who is serving a 10-year sentence linked to his human rights activities, and other political prisoners in Belarus.
Bialiatski is Belarus’ top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, founding the Human Rights Center Viasna, Belarus’ most prominent human rights group. Viasna has been branded an extremist organization by Belarusian authorities.
Recall that Ales, along with colleagues Valiantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich, was detained on July 14, 2021. The human rights defenders were accused of "smuggling" and "financing group actions that grossly violate public order."
On March 3, 2023, judge Maryna Zapasnik sentenced Viasna activists to long terms: Uladzimir Labkovich to 7 years in a penal colony, Valiantsin Stefanovich to 9 years in a penal colony, Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in a penal colony. The human rights defenders have not admitted their guilt under any article that was imputed to them.
Viasna leadership receives from 7 to 10 years in jail
The sentences imposed are two years less than those requested by the prosecutor.
