Statement by Human Rights Center “Viasna”
26 November 2012, Minsk
The
imprisonment of the head of the organization, Ales Bialiatski, and
confiscation of its office won't stop the activities of the Human
Rights Center “Viasna”
On 24 November there has turned a
year since the delivery of the sentence to the head of the Human
Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski, who was sentenced to 4.5
years of imprisonment with confiscation of property on charges of
evasion from the payment of taxes, by which receiving financial means
for the organization's activities was meant. We consider this verdict
solely as a legal lynching of the most famous Belarusian human rights
defender and an attempt to stop the activities of the Human Rights
Center “Viasna”. We also have the same views on the confiscation
of the apartment in Nezalezhnasts Avenue 78a-48 in Minsk where the
central office of the organization has been situated for the last 12
years.
During the existence of this office of the HRC “Viasna”
it has been visited by thousands of citizens who have been given
legal assistance. We have raised funds for assistance to the
repressed, held press-conferences, meetings, trainings and seminars.
Our activities have always been carried out openly, despite the
absence of the state registration since 2003 and the danger of
prosecution arising from it.
The Human Rights Center “Viasna”
has grounded its activities on the international standards of human
rights advocacy, provisions of the Declaration
on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of
Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms (Declaration on Human Rights Defenders),
adopted by the UN General Assembly, which guarantees the right
protect
human rights individually and association with others and seek funds
for such activities.
The Human Rights Center “Viasna
states:
The imprisonment of Ales Bialiatski and existence of
political prisoners in Belarus indicate a critically bad situation of
human rights in the country.
The reprisals against the head
and the members of the HRC “Viasna”, as well as the confiscation
of assets, will not stop our activities. The organization will not
refuse from any of directions of the legitimate activities for the
protection of human rights.
All victims of human rights
violations can still count on our support and assistance.
We
will continue defending the human rights values, struggle for their
respect by the Belarusian authorities and inform the Belarusian
society and the international community about the real situation of
human rights in Belarus.