Two years have passed since arrest of Ales Bialiatski
Today marks exactly two years since the
arrest of Ales Bialiatski - Vice prezident of the International
Federation for Human Rights, the head of the human rights center
"Viasna", closed by the Belarusian authorities. The
International Day of Solidarity with Civil Society of Belarus is
timed to this date.
Ales Bialiatski was arrested in Minsk on 4
August 2011. In November of the same year, he was convicted of
concealing income on a large scale, and sentenced to four and a half
years' imprisonment in a maximum security prison with confiscation of
property.
The basis for the prosecution was the use of
Bialiatski's foreign bank accounts for accumulation of funds for
human rights advocacy. Due to the fact that the HRC “Viasna”
continued operating illegally after being liquidated by the
authorities in 2003 it was impossible for it to open bank accounts in
its name in Belarus. Moreover, the authorities have repeatedly denied
official registration to the organization. The court also ignored the
fact that the damage, allegedly caused by Bialiatski, was fully
repaid by the voluntary contributions of citizens.
The human
rights activist, serving his sentence in Babruisk, is officially
recognized as a prisoner of conscience.
The International Day
of Solidarity with the Civil Society of Belarus was dated to the day
of Bialiatski's arrest. The event is dedicated to the contemporary
humanists and visionaries, as well as to the people and organizations
that represent a Belarus of freedom and resistance. Solidarity
actions were held in many countries.
As for Belarus, the bids
to host 4 August pickets of solidarity with political prisoners were
filed in more than ten cities. In all cases, the events were banned
by local authorities.
On the eve of the Day of Solidarity with
the Civil Society of Belarus, the International Federation for Human
Rights once again called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately
release its vice-President Ales Bialiatski. The calls for an
immediate release of Bialiatski and cessation of harassment of human
rights defenders were also voiced by the UN Special Rapporteur on
Belarus Miklos Haraszti and the U.S. Department of State.