Arrested in 2021 on trumped-up charges,

Ales Bialiatski

is on the dock with his colleagues

Valyantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich

.

They face 7 to 12 years in prison," Human Rights Watch said in a video about the trial, which began on January 5 in Minsk.

Human Rights Watch calls the massacre of Vesna "part of a broader campaign by the Belarusian authorities to suppress civil society."

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, the German government, and others also demanded the release of Viasny human rights defenders.

Persecution of Human Rights Center "Viasna"

As of October 7, 2022, 6 "Spring" activists remain behind bars.

On September 17, 2020, human rights defender "Viasna"

Marfa Rabkova

was detained .

She has been behind bars since then.

First, she was charged according to Part 3 of Art.

293 of the Criminal Code — "training or other preparation of persons to participate in mass riots, or financing of such activities."

Then the accusations of "inciting social enmity against the authorities" (Part 3, Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and "Participation in a criminal organization" (Part 2, Article 285 of the Criminal Code) were added.

  • On September 6, 2022,

    Marfa Rabkova was

    sentenced to 15 years in prison under the general regime and a fine of 700 basic units (22,400 Belarusian rubles, or over $8,800);

Also remain prisoners:

  • Andrei Chapyuk

    , a volunteer of "Viasny" from Minsk, was detained on October 2, 2020.

    He is accused of participating in mass riots and participating in a criminal organization.

    Chapyuk was sentenced to 6 years in prison under the enhanced regime and fined 500 base units (16,000 Belarusian rubles or more than $6,300);

  • Leonid Sudalenko

    , director of the Gomel branch of "Vyasny", was detained on January 18, 2021.

    According to the article on mass riots, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

  • Ales Bialiatski

    , the chairman of "Viasny", was detained on July 14, 2021. He is accused according to Part 2 of Art.

    243 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion).

    He faces up to 7 years in prison.

    On October 7, 2022, Ales Bialiatsky was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

  • Valyantsin Stefanovich

    , deputy chairman of "Viasna" and vice-president of FIDH, was detained on July 14, 2021.

    He is accused according to Part 1 and 2 of Art.

    342 (organization and financing of group actions that grossly violate public order) and Part 2 of Art.

    243 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion).

    He faces up to 7 years in prison.

  • Vladimir Labkovych

    , lawyer of "Viasny", was detained on July 14, 2021. He is accused according to part 1 and 2 of Art.

    342 (organization and financing of group actions that grossly violate public order) and Part 2 of Art.

    243 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion).

    He faces up to 7 years in prison.

Released:

  • Tattsiana Lasitsa

    , a volunteer of "Viasna" from Goml, was detained on January 21, 2021. According to the article about mass riots, she spent 1 year and 8 months behind bars.

    The human rights defender did not serve the entire term.