"Bialyatski and other human rights defenders are being held behind bars for the activities of "Viasna""

On September 25, Ales Bialiatski turns 60 years old.

On his anniversary, the creator and permanent head of the human rights center "Viasna" is in a pre-trial detention center.

Ales also celebrated his 50th anniversary behind bars.

Who is Ales Bialiatski

  • He was born on September 25, 1962 in the urban settlement of Vartsil in the Karelian ASSR, where his Belarusian parents worked at the time.

    In 1965, the family returned to Belarus, to Svetlagorsk.

  • In 1984, Ales graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology of the Gomel University, worked as a teacher in the Lelchytsky District.

  • He served in the Soviet army in the Sverdlovsk region of the Russian Federation as a mechanic-driver of an armored tractor.

  • In 1986–1989, he was the founder of the Association of Young Writers "Tuteyshiya".

  • In 1989, he graduated from the Institute of Literature of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

  • From 1989 to 1998, he worked as the director of the Maxim Bogdanovich Literary Museum.

  • In 1991–1996, he was a deputy of the Minsk City Council of Deputies.

  • In 1996, he founded the human rights organization "Viasna"

  • On August 4, 2011, he was detained - he was accused of "tax evasion".

    On November 23, he was sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment in a penal colony with confiscation of property.

  • On June 21, 2014, he was released early from the Bobrui colony.

  • During his 25 years of activity, he was awarded numerous prizes and awards: the Swedish Per Anger Prize, the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Prize, the Homo Homini Prize, presented by Vaclav Havel, the Norwegian Writers' Union Prize "For Freedom of Speech", the US State Department Prize, the Lech Walesa Prize , the Petra Kelly Award, the Vaclav Havel Award from PARE, the "For Human Rights and the Rule of Law" award, and others.

  • He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times.

  • Ales is the author of the books "Jogs along the shore of Lake Geneva", "Enlightened by Belarus", "Cold wing of the homeland", "Mercury silver of life", "Fight with yourself".

  • On July 14, 2021, he was detained on a criminal charge, his home and the Viasna office were searched.

  • Now he is in pre-trial detention center No. 1 - on "Voladarka" - together with his colleagues: human rights defenders Valyantsin Stefanovych and Vladimir Labkovich.

  • In total, he was prosecuted more than 20 times for his active social and human rights activities.

    Recognized as a political prisoner.

Photo gallery: Ales Bialiatski.

Photo biography

Photographs of Vladimir Sapagov, Sergei Sys, Michal Cherny, from the archives of Ales Bialiatsky, human rights center "Viasna", International Federation of Human Rights, Internet resources http://vytoki.net, http://bymedia.net.

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Svaboda spoke with Ales Bialiatski's colleagues, whom he joined in human rights activities.

"People looked to him as a moral authority whose values ​​were indisputable"

Human rights defender

Daria Rublevskaya

says that she first got acquainted with the books of Ales Bialiatski.

And after reading these books, as the girl admits, she painted a portrait of a very gloomy person, weighed down by the experience of a long struggle, constant struggle.

"And when I came to "Vyasna" for the first time, Ales Viktarovich came out with a cup with a picture of a "Barbie" doll on it, and spoke to me very warmly.

We talked about values ​​for a long time.

He asked me where I was from, why I speak Belarusian, and when I dared to do so, he asked a lot about my family.

And to this day, he always asks about it in his letters.

For me, he was never a boss in such a classical sense as in serious commercial or vertically built structures.

For me, he was a person to whom you come for certain advice.

He himself never gives advice unless you ask.

But his views on some things were very valuable, and this is now sorely lacking," says Daria Rublevskaya.

Daria Rublevskaya during the aqiya on the International Day of Solidarity with the Civil Society of Belarus in support of the imprisoned "Spring Workers" near the Belarusian Embassy in Vilnius, August 4, 2022

She works at the "Belarusian Human Rights School", where young people are taught human rights.

From the beginning of the foundation of this initiative, Ales taught at various courses, he told about the history of the dissident movement, about the structure of Belarusian human rights organizations.

"But, of course, he influenced people not only with his lectures, it was noticeable - people looked at him as a moral authority whose inner values ​​are simply indisputable.

People lined up to sign books to find out how he coped with his previous prison experience and what his creative plans are.

For me, despite the difference in age, experience, and experiences, he remains a very energetic, cheerful, and most importantly, a creative and creative person."

Daria also recalled how in 2020, when mass arrests of people on administrative matters began, young human rights activists founded the "Solidarity Postcard Workshop" initiative and wrote letters to both political prisoners and those who were sent to TIP for a day.

"Ales was an ideological inspirer, he always spoke about the importance of such support, about the importance of solidarity, primarily through letters and postcards.

Therefore, no matter what happens, such activities cannot be abandoned.

Ales Viktarovich is greatly missed in the team," says human rights defender Daria Rublevskaya.

Photo gallery: Ales Bialiatski.

First photos on the loose

  • Radio Svaboda

Ales Bialiatski, who was suddenly released from prison in Bobruisk, arrived in Minsk at 3:00 p.m. on June 21.

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Photos of June 21, 2014

"When something happens, he very calmly and soberly assesses what needs to be done"

Ales Burakou

, human rights defender of "Vyasny", met Ales Bialiatsky when he was just released from Babruysk prison and presented his book "The Silver of Life" in Mogilev.

In 2015, he attended a meeting with human rights defenders of "Viasny".

"Ales Viktorovich seemed very thorough.

Such people are impressive.

Simplicity in communication was very attractive.

He is a man who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, he is a symbol of the human rights movement, such a majestic figure, but he spoke so simply, easily shared simple, everyday things with his colleagues, how he can go to his village house, do something there.

And he talked about it very interestingly!

I am also very impressed by how he treats difficulties related to professional activities.

Bialiatski has the magic of teaching people who are close to him not to react emotionally to problems.

That is, when something happens, he very calmly and soberly assesses what needs to be done.

It was a very useful lesson for me: any problem of the highest level can be solved with minimal nervous costs," says Ales Burakov.

Ales Burakov, 2021

"When I feel particularly acutely hopeless, despair, do not see the light, I always mention Ales"

For the human rights activist

Diana Pinchuk

, Ales Bialiatski is a vivid example of devotion to one's ideas and principles.

"It was from Ales Viktarovich that I understood what the value of Man with a capital letter is, which is the basis of the concept of human rights.

That's why now, when I feel hopelessness, despair, I can't see the light, I always mention Ales.

This man, despite the fact that there were more obstacles than some favorable conditions, managed to create and preserve a large human rights organization "Viasna" as early as 1996, which has always been and still is not to the liking of the Belarusian authorities.

It is for the activities of "Viasna" that Ales and other human rights defenders are being held behind bars," Diana is convinced.

Diana Pinchuk at the rally on the International Day of Solidarity with the Civil Society of Belarus in support of the imprisoned "spring workers" near the Belarusian embassy.

Vilnius, August 4, 2022

Ales Bialiatski himself always says that if it were not for the team, idealistic people around him, he would not have been able to create such an organization.

And he always personally looked after every employee of "Vyasna", a volunteer.

"I remember that in 2020-21, when we had a lot of work, he always found time to call and ask how I was doing, how I was feeling.

When I had to leave Belarus and move to Ukraine, he also always contacted me.

Therefore, it is very important for me now that he knows that human rights activities continue - in the form of the work of "Viasna", recording of violations of the rights of Belarusians, support of political prisoners, promotion of human rights even in such simply unacceptable conditions and circumstances.

So that he knows that the idea for which human rights defenders were put behind bars is still alive today," says Diana Pinchuk.

Action on the International Day of Solidarity with the Civil Society of Belarus in support of the imprisoned "Springers" near the Belarusian Embassy, ​​Vilnius, August 4, 2022

"Ales is working on a new book of memories about the Bogdanovich Literary Museum"

Human rights defender

Siarhei Sis

has been friends with Ales Bialiatski since his student years - more than 40 years in total.

And, knowing the firm character of his colleague and friend, his pedantry and persistence in achieving his goals, he is convinced that Bialiatski is not wasting his time even in prison while awaiting trial.

"Letters from Ales are a great rarity, the correspondence is almost completely blocked by prison censors.

Nevertheless, I know that Ales is working on a new book of memories about the literary museum named after Maxim Bogdanovich, where he worked as a director.

Essay writing.

But it is not known whether it will all be preserved.

Previously, Bialiatskiy had sent his books, written in prison, in parts in letters.

And sometimes we collectively deciphered Ales' very difficult handwriting."

Sergei Sis on the Chernobyl road in Vilnius, April 26, 2022

Siarhei Sys says that Ales reads a lot behind bars, although the selection of books in the library of the pre-trial detention center on "Voladarka" is not very rich, and he hopes that in those books his friend finds something for his soul and mind.

Ales is careful about his health, he makes interesting dishes from available products, he makes sure that there are at least some vitamins.

"It's a shame, of course, that he, like our other friends, has been behind bars for so long.

Slavery is an extremely difficult test.

But I'm convinced that Ales will pass it with dignity," Siarhei Sis is convinced.

Persecution of Human Rights Center "Viasna"

As of October 15, 2021, 7 "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."

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

She faces up to 12 years in prison.

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.

    He faces up to 7 years in prison.

  • Leonid Sudalenko

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

    According to the article on mass riots, he faces up to 3 years in prison.

  • Tattsiana Lasitsa

    , a volunteer of "Viasna" from Goml, was detained on January 21, 2021. According to the article on mass riots, she faces up 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.

  • Valyantsin Stefanovich

    , deputy chairman of "Viasny" 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.