Amnesty International: “Your letter can change one's life” (video)

Drawing the example of the Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, who used to be a prisoner of conscience just several months ago, the Belgian branch of Amnesty International calls for participation in its Solidarity Marathon.

Belgian branch of the international human rights organization has made videos with Ales Bialiatski, through which calls on activists around the world to join the writing of letters of solidarity within the global Marathon held on December 6-10. To date, 12 people, recognized as prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International, need such support.

During his imprisonment of the head of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" about 40,000 letters calling for his release were sent to Belarus from around the world. In this video Aliaksandr Bialiatski thanks their authors.

"I live and work in Belarus. Belarus has had an authoritarian dictatorship for 20 years already. President Lukashenkahas ruled the country as he wanted, all these years. The last three years I spent in prison as a political prisoner. During this time I received about 40,000 letters in my support. Most of these letters were sent to me by members of Amnesty International from around the world. I want to express my gratitude and encourage members of Amnesty International and their supporters to continue their work in favor of human rights around the world," said Ales Bialiatski in his video address.

Let us remind that Ales Bialiatski was arrested on August 4, 2011 on charges of "tax evasion on a large scale". On November 24, 2011 he was sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment in a penal colony. Immediately after his arrest, Amnesty International recognized Ales Bialiatski prisoner of conscience. The human rights activist was released on June 21, 2014, the first day of action of the law on amnesty, which he had been denied for two years in a row over the "numerous violations of prison rules". During the whole term of his imprisonment, international human rights organizations, the European Union and the United States demanded that the Belarusian authorities unconditionally releasedthe prisoner of conscience.