European Parliament calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Belorussian human rights defender Ales Bialatski
On 15 September members of the European Parliament adopted
a resolution in which they express deep concern at the deteriorating
situation of human rights defenders in Belarus. They strongly condemn the
recent arrest of and allegations against Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human
Rights Cenetr Viasna, and the
Belarusian authorities’ failure to respect the fundamental rights of freedom of
assembly and expression.
Given the
"unprecedented crackdown on civil society in Belarus following the presidential
elections in December 2010", MEPs believe that the criminal case against
Ales Bialiatski is politically motivated and intended to obstruct his
legitimate work as a human rights defender. They call for Ales Bialiatski to be
"immediately and unconditionally released from custody and for the
investigation and all the charges against him to be dropped".
Parliament also calls on the Council, the Commission and foreign policy
High Representative Catherine Ashton to step up their pressure on the
Belarusian authorities, and to further expand the visa ban and asset freeze
list to include those involved in the arrest and prosecution of Ales Bialiatski.