Belarus: EU strongly condemns sentencing of Ales Bialiatski and other human rights defenders

The European Union has condemned in the strongest possible terms the sentencing of Ales Bialiatski and other Human Rights Defenders. 

On 3 March, a Minsk Court sentenced members of the Viasna Human Rights Centre, including its chairman and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, deputy chairman Valiantsin Stefanovic, Zmitser Salauyou (tried in absentia), and lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich, to ten, nine, eight, and seven years respectively in prison, on fake and politically motivated charges.

The EU said that these “sham trials are yet another appalling example of the Lukashenko regime trying to silence those who stand up in defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people in Belarus. Lukashenko will not succeed. Their call for freedom is loud, even behind bars.” 

At the same time, the EU called for the immediate and unconditional release of the more than 1,450 political prisoners in Belarus persecuted for opposing human rights violations in Belarus and the country’s role in the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The EU added it would continue to support all those who bravely strive for a sovereign, free, democratic, safe and prosperous Belarus.

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