Valiantsin Stefanovich: "Viasna" will continue its work in all circumstances
It was reported on Saturday that the confiscation of the office of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" was scheduled for November 26. Human rights defenders stress that the news was not a surprise for the activists of the organization and they would continue their work in all circumstances.
The date of forfeiture of Viasna’s office was reported by bailiff Radzevich of
Minsk Pershamaiski District Court in a written notification sent to the wife of
the head of the organization Ales Bialiatski. Natallia Pinchuk received the
letter on 17 November.
Viasna’s deputy chairman Valiantsin Stefanovich said in his comments to the
Belarusian service of Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe that the notification was
not a surprise to the employees of the organization:
"This, of course, complicates our lives. But in any case we will continue
working. We were prepared for this. Indeed, it has had a long history. Since
August, the court decision has been in force and was to be executed. It is all a
bit strange that we were let staying here for so long, and even worked during
the elections – and we were doing observation then. We have been waiting, and
now there is a specific date – November 26.
Although, of course, we’re sorry, because we have worked in this office for 12
years. In fact, all Belarusian activists know our address. For us it is very
important that the office is well-known, recognized, and people, if something
happens, could know where to find us. But, nevertheless, we ourselves do not
disappear, we will continue to work."
On November 24, 2011, Chairman of the Human Rights
Center "Viasna"
Ales Bialiatski was sentenced by Minsk Pershamaiski District Court on false
charges under Par. 2 of Art. 243 of the Criminal Code to 4 years and 6 months of
imprisonment in a maximum security penal colony with confiscation of property
and compensation of alleged damage to the state. On January 18, 2012, the
required amount collected by citizens in the campaign to raise funds for Ales
Bialiatski was transferred to the account of the Department of Justice of Minsk city executive
committee for Pershamaiski District Court as a compensation for the damage
allegedly caused by the convict. These funds were paid in order to secure the
release of the political prisoner, or change of the preventive measure used
against him and mitigate the extremely harsh sentence. On January 24, 2012,
Minsk City Court dismissed the human rights defender’s appeal and upheld the verdict
of the court of first instance. On September 20, 2012, the Supreme Court dismissed
Ales Bialiatski’s supervisory appeal. Later the same month, a complaint on
behalf of the Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" and Vice
President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Ales
Bialiatski was registered in the UN Human Rights Committee.