Swedish MEP urges to release Ales Bialiatski

MEP Olle Schmidt, representing the Liberal Party of Sweden, has addressed the Belarusian Prosecutor General with an open letter, concerning the recent case detention of Mr Ales Bialiatski.

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
I write to you in great concern regarding the detainment of Mr Ales Bialiatski on August 4th. 
 
Mr Bialiatski through his work as Chairperson of the Viasna Human Rights Centre provides significant services to the Belarusian people. His work is crucially important.
In spite of this, he and the Viasna organisation face political persecution, orchestrated by the Belarus regime. It is of double concern, therefore, that Mr Bialiatski as a known representative of those who struggle for freedom and human rights in Belarus now risk a long imprisonment, on faulty and politically motivated grounds. Mr Bialiatski must be considered a political prisoner.
 
Belarus has, unfortunately, a tarnished record of unlawfully holding political prisoners, of mistreatments amounting to torture reported from state prisons, and of unfree and unfair trials, in open mockery of the rule of law.  
 
The world sees what happens in Belarus. We listen, worry and will not stay silent or passive in the face of any further violations of the universal human rights.
 
Repeatedly, the European Parliament of which I am Member has called on Belarus to release other political prisoners. EU targeted sanctions are in place after the fraudulent
elections last year. Our hope, as neighbours, was that the situation in Belarus would turn for the better, for more of democracy, rule of law and a decent human rights situation including freedom for the human rights workers to do their job.
 
I sincerely hope that this ongoing case against Mr Bialiatski will not provide another disappointment to this vision of a free and prosperous Belarus within the European neighbourhood.
 
Dear Sir/Madam, I strongly and urgently plead with you to immediately release Mr Bialiatski from custody and remove any restrictions on his freedom of movement; and
to release Mr Bialiatski from all charges against him.
 
Rest assured that I will follow the coming developments closely.
 
Sincerely yours,

Olle Schmidt
Member of the European Parliament
Liberal Party of Sweden / Folkpartiet