Belarusian human rights defenders launch fundraising campaign to compensate damage in Bialiatski’s case
Belarusian human
rights defenders launched a special campaign to collect the money for paying the “damage,
done by the crime” which had been allegedly committed by Ales Bialiatski. It
was stated at a special press-conference.
The head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak, the deputy head of
the Human Rights Center
“Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich, the head of the Belarusian Association of
Journalists Zhanna Litvina, the head of the movement “For Freedom!” Aliaksandr
Milinkevich and the head of the Assembly of NGOs Siarhei Matskevich took part
in the conference.
According to the court verdict to Bialiatski, the total sum of the damage is
757,526,717 (about $90,000). Human rights defenders especially emphasized the
fact that Ales Bialiatski pleaded innocent and the Belarusian and international
human rights community considered the verdict to him as politically motivated.
As stated by Aliaksandr Milinkevich, “it is very dangerous when we apply to
foreign countries each time when we have to protect our rights, and hope to
receive support. Such support is important and necessary, but the most
important thing is mutual support inside the country. We have such examples.
Such solidarity manifested most clearly in 2010 – there hasn’t been such a wave
before. I call all honest people to show this solidarity,” stated the leader of
the movement “For Freedom!”.
The head of the Assembly of NGOs Siarhei Matskevich, in his turn, stated: “We
aim this campaign at the establishment of a solidary Belarusian society, which
would be able to release not only Bialiatski, but also other political
prisoners and move Belarus
towards a better future”.
An appropriate bank account was opened in Belarus within the framework of the
campaign. Financial means can be transferred to it only by Belarusian citizens.
