The head of the Belarusian PEN, Tatyana Niadbai, comments on the verdict of Ales Bialiatskyi

:

"Human rights defender and writer Ales Bialiatski today embodies the entire civil society of Belarus, which does not want to put up with injustice and violations of human rights in Belarus, the destruction of Belarusian culture.

A man of the epicenter - he was always in the vortex of fateful events for the country and society.

He twice consciously chose not to leave, but to stay with his people, in his country.

Bialiatski's personal history is a chronicle of the country: the milestones of his private life are closely intertwined with the stages of the formation of the new Belarus that we dream of.

The unjust and politically motivated sentence against Bialiatsky, a man who devoted his whole life to Belarusian culture and human rights, is evidence that the regime in Belarus today is anti-Belarusian and anti-people, and will take revenge on steadfast citizens for their unwavering stance and rejection of dictatorship, violence and lies."

On March 3, the court of the Leninsky district of Minsk announced the sentence against the human rights defender "Vyasny".

Judge Marina Zapasnyk sentenced:

  • Ales Bialiatskyi

    , winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and the founder of the organization, received 10 years in prison;

  • Valentin Stefanovych

    , deputy of Bialiatskii and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights, - 9 years of imprisonment;

  • Vladimir Labkovich

    , coordinator of the "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" campaign and a lawyer, was sentenced to 7 years in prison;

  • Dmitriy Solovyov

    , who is being tried in absentia, is 8 years in prison.

They were found guilty of "money smuggling by an organized group" in 2016-2021 (Part 4 of Article 228 of the Criminal Code) and "financing of protests" in 2020 (Part 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code).

The trial of the criminal case took place in the court of the Leninsky district of Minsk from January 5.

Ales Bialiatski, Valentin Stefanovich and Vladimir Labkovich did not fully admit their guilt.

At the February 9 hearing, state prosecutor Alyaksei Karol demanded that Bialiatski be sentenced to 12 years in prison, Stefanovich to 11, and Labkovich to 9. He suggested that Solovyov, who is being tried in absentia, be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

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 โ€” "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.

  • 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 "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.

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.