"I condemn this shameful sentence in relation to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.

This is a transparent, politically motivated attempt to stifle protests and suppress human rights and democracy,”

Bill Clinton

wrote on Twitter.

Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya

thanked him for this.

"We must continue to support human rights defenders and everyone else who is fighting against the ongoing repression of the Belarusian regime," she wrote in response to Clinton on the same social network.

In December 2011, the wife of ex-president Hillary Clinton, being the US Secretary of State at that time, supported Bialiatski, who was in prison at that time, at the session of the Council of Ministers of the OSCE.

On March 3, the court of the Leninsky District of Minsk announced the sentence to the human rights defender "Vyasny". Judge

Maryna 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, Article 228 of the Criminal Code) and "Protest financing" in 2020 (Part 2, 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.

Persecution of Human Rights Center "Viasna"

As of March 3, 2022, 6 "Spring" activists are 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).

    On February 28, 2023, the Supreme Court of Belarus considered the appeal in the case of Rabkova.

    The term of imprisonment was shortened by three months

Also remain prisoners:

  • Andrei Chapyuk

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

    He was 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

    , chairman of "Viasna", was detained on July 14, 2021. During his imprisonment, on October 7, 2022, Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

    On March 3, 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

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

  • Valyantsin Stefanovich

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

    On March 3, 2023, he was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

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

  • Uladzimer Labkovich

    , lawyer of "Viasny", was detained on July 14, 2021. On March 3, 2023, he was sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment.

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

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.