Ales Bialiatski wins the 2011 Human Rights Defenders Award

STATEMENT BY VICTORIA NULAND, SPOKESPERSON

U.S. Department of State

May 18, 2012

Winners of the Human Rights Defenders Award

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that Ales Bialiatski of Belarus and Uganda’s Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law are the joint winners of the 2011 Human Rights Defenders Award. This award recognizes individuals or non-governmental organizations that show exceptional valor and leadership in advocating the protection of human rights and democracy in the face of government repression.

Ales Bialiatski has bravely advocated on behalf of victims of political oppression and their families despite harassment by the Government of Belarus. As the founder of one of Belarus’ leading human rights organizations, “Viasna”, Bialiatski provided legal and practical support to victims of an on-going crackdown and acted as a key source of information about human rights violations.

He is currently a political prisoner, serving a four and a half year sentence for defending human rights.

Uganda’s Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law is honored for effectively defending the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, often at great personal risk. The Coalition, which is comprised of 40 Ugandan NGOs, has successfully defended the rights of LGBT individuals in Ugandan courts, sparked public dialogue on LGBT rights in Uganda, and challenged widespread misperceptions and prejudices. The Coalition’s structure, effectiveness, and engagement with Ugandan civil society, government officials, and the Ugandan public provides a model for other human rights activists around the world.

This year’s nominees came from every corner of the world. Common World and the Little Bird Mutual Assistance Hotline in China, as well as the Mutual Support Group and the Center for Legal Action in Human Rights, from Guatemala were nominated organizations, as were an impressive group of individual nominees: Jorge Molano of Colombia, Adilur Rahman Khan from Bangladesh, George Freeman from Sierra Leone, Govinda Prasad Sharma Koirala of Nepal, Swaziland’s Justice Thomas Masuku, Igor Kalyapin from Russia, Zarganar from Burma, and Zaw Min Htut, a Rohingya rights activist living in Japan.

The United States stands with these human rights defenders and civil society activists who are doing the hard work every day, in every part of the world, to make real the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Source: http://minsk.usembassy.gov

Nobel Committee registers Ales Bialiatski’s nomination for Peace Prize

The Nobel Committee has admitted the nomination of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski for the 2012 Peace Prize, Polskie Radio reports, quoting Polish Sejm MP Andrzej Halicki and chairman of the Freedom and Democracy Foundation Tomasz Pisula.

Ales Bialiatski’s nomination was submitted by a number of prominent figures including Polish MPs and several members of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.

Ales Bialiatski wins Norwegian ‘Freedom of Expression’ award

March 25, 2012

The imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski has been awarded the Freedom of Expression award by the Norwegian Authors´ Union (“Den norske Forfatterforening”).

The award is to promote the activities of human rights defenders, journalists and writers who fight for freedom of expression in unfree countries. According to the Norwegian Authors´ Union, the award is recognition of Ales Bialiatski’s work and the high objectives pursued by Viasna activists.

“It will be a great surprise for my husband, when I will write about to him upon my return,” said Ales Bialiatski’s wife Natallia Pinchuk at the award ceremony in Oslo on March 25.

Philippine human rights defenders support Ales Bialiatski

February 17, 2012 - In a press conference, the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and Human Rights Defenders-Pilipinas (HRDP), condemned a global pattern of repression of human rights defenders.

One devious pattern is the “criminalization” of persons who defend the poor, vulnerable and marginalized against repressive governance and impoverishing development.

Mr. Max de Mesa, Chairperson of PAHRA, presented the case of Mr. Ales Bialitski from Belarus presently imprisoned since November 24, 2011 in his own country for promoting human rights. Bialitski is the Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH ) and President of the Belarusian Human Rights Center “Viasna” (Viasna). PAHRA is the Philippine member of FIDH.

De Mesa said that “Any opposition to a repressive regime or authority will be branded as a crime, including the promotion and defence of human rights.” “This we experienced during the Marcos dictatorship,” the PAHRA Chairperson continued. Ales was convicted of alleged tax evasion.

Ms. Rita Melencio, TFDP Deputy for Operations, stated that “the cases of both Mr. Ales Bialitski and Mr. Temogen Tulawie expose the same oftentimes political character of the prosecution and persecution of human rights defenders.” Tulawie’s advocacies included protecting people in Sulu against abuses during military operations, and demanding justice and accountability for moro women victims of rape. Charges of alleged assassination attempts was filed by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan. Tulawie is presently detained in Davao.

Action of solidarity with HRC "Viasna" in Prague: human rights evicted

In the morning of February 6, 2012 cars with furniture and slogans: “Human rights got evicted” appeared near the entrance of the Belarusian Embassy in the Czech Republic, marking the start of an action in support of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski and the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

Bookcases, tables, computers, lamps and a toilet sink – all these things were unloaded from the cars there. Posters with the slogan “Evicted!” and “Freedom to Ales Bialiatski!” were put atop the furniture. This is the way the action organizers reacted to the verdict to Ales Bialiatski – 4.5 years in high-security prison with confiscation of assets (including the apartment where the office of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” is situated).

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Picket in support of Ales Bialiatski held in Stockholm

On January 31, 2012, a picket in support of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners in Belarus was held near the Belarusian Embassy in Stockholm. It was organized by the Swedish human rights initiative Östgruppen in cooperation with Civil Rights Defenders, the Swedish branch of Amnesty International and the Swedish Union of Writers.

Participants of the action demanded immediate and unconditional release of Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners in Belarus. Speeches were delivered by a former Swedish MP Cristian Holm, the deputy head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich who came to Sweden on invitation of Östgruppen, and the Swedish human rights defender Sofia Uggla.

“At present the Belarusian authorities heavily pressurize the independent civil society, but the struggle for freedom and human rights continues. I am sure that this struggle will be successful,” said Sofia Uggla.

PACE declaration in support with Bialiatski and his nomination as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Price

25 January 2012

In support of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Price to Ales Bialiatski, Belarusian Human Rights Defender

We, parliamentarians of the member states of the Council of Europe, strongly support the idea of awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the distinguished Belarusian activist and the human rights defender - Ales Bialiatski.

Ales Bialiatski, sentenced to 4,5 years of hard labour, has never been a politician. His only fault is that, being a sensitive person, he stood alongside the victims of the antidemocratic regime, helped them and took care of their families. We demand his release.

The People of the Free Europe will never abandon the citizens of Belarus, who are fully entitled to exercise the same rights as we do.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed: ¹

HALICKI Andrzej, Poland, EPP/CD

BECK Marieluise, Germany, ALDE

BIEDROŃ Robert, Poland, NR

BIERECKI Grzegorz, Poland, NR

ČIGĀNE Lolita, Latvia, EPP/CD

CORLĂŢEAN Titus, Romania, SOC

ÉKES József, Hungary, EPP/CD

FARINA Renato, Italy, EPP/CD

FROMMELT Doris, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

FRUNDA György, Romania, EPP/CD

GHILETCHI Valeriu, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD

GIRZYŃSKI Zbigniew, Poland, EDG

GÓRCZYŃSKI Jarosław, Poland, EPP/CD

HAUPERT Norbert, Luxembourg, EPP/CD

HERASYM'YUK Olha, Ukraine, EPP/CD

HERKEL Andres, Estonia, EPP/CD

IWIŃSKI Tadeusz, Poland, SOC

KAMIŃSKI Mariusz, Poland, EDG

KOVÁCS Elvira, Serbia, EPP/CD

LĪBIŅA-EGNERE Inese, Latvia, EPP/CD

MAYER Edgar, Austria, EPP/CD

NAGY Gábor Tamás, Hungary, EPP/CD

NEGELE Gebhard, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

NEUGEBAUER Fritz, Austria, EPP/CD

NYKIEL Mirosława, Poland, EPP/CD

PAPADIMITRIOU Elsa, Greece, EPP/CD

POSTANJYAN Zaruhi, Armenia, EPP/CD

POURBAIX-LUNDIN Marietta de, Sweden, EPP/CD

RADZISZEWSKA Elżbieta, Poland, EPP/CD

ROGACKI Adam, Poland, NR

SANTINI Giacomo, Italy, EPP/CD

SCHÄDLER Leander, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

SCHOU Ingjerd, Norway, EPP/CD

SOBOLEV Serhiy, Ukraine, EPP/CD

SZABÓ Vilmos, Hungary, SOC

VAREIKIS Egidijus, Lithuania, EPP/CD

VEJKEY Imre, Hungary, EPP/CD

VOLONTÈ Luca, Italy, EPP/CD

WACH Piotr, Poland, EPP/CD

WADEPHUL Johann, Germany, EPP/CD

ZINGERIS Emanuelis, Lithuania, EPP/CD

__________________

Total = 41

¹ EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

SOC: Socialist Group

ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

EDG: European Democratic Group

UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

NR: not registered in a group

Ales Bialiatski nominated as a candidate for the Nobel prize by five Ukrainian MPs

January, 27, 2012 - According to Roman Bezsmertny, former Ambassador of the Ukraine to Belarus, five Ukrainian parliamentarians addressed the Nobel Peace Prize Committee with a letter for the nomination of the Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski as a candidate for the Peace Prize.

These MPs are Mustafa Jamilyov, Lesya Hryhorovych, Yaroslav Kender, Viktor Marchuk and Anatoliy Matviyenko. They have received a receipt confirmation from Oslo already.

“What concerns my personal opinion, I support the initiative of my former colleagues, parliamentarians. I am also sure that this man deserves to be awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize,” commented Roman Bezsmertny.

Polish Sejm to nominate Ales Bialiatski for Nobel Peace Prize

January 27, 2012 - A number of MPs of the Polish Sejm are expected to announce their involvement in the nomination of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski for the Nobel Peace Prize this Friday, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

The official statement has reportedly been signed by MPs from other CE countries, too.

“The idea appeals to our colleagues and they gladly signed the statement during the recent PACE session in Strasbourg”, says Mr. Andrzej Halicki, head of the Polish delegation to PACE.

According to Mr. Halicki, Poland owes much to Ales Bialiatski and therefore should pay its tribute to him in this way.

Human Rights House Network calls for immediate release and rehabilitation of Ales Bialiastki

The condemnation of Ales Bialiatski illustrates how seriously threatened freedom of association and freedom of expression are in Belarus. Members and partners of the Human Rights House Network call upon Belarusian authorities to immediately release and drop all charges against human rights defender Ales Bialiatski; to fully rehabilitate him and to ensure unhampered activities of human rights and other civil society organizations.

Tuesday, 24 January 2012, by Belarusian Human Rights House in exile

On January 24, the cassation appeal against the verdict of the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk, of Ales Bialiatski, Head of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” in Belarus, Vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and one of the founders of the Belarusian Human Rights House in exile, left the sentence against Ales Bialiatski in force: 4.5 years imprisonment in a higher security colony and confiscation of properties. The latter disregards the fact that all the taxes and penalties imposed on Ales Bialiatski have been fully paid by the time of the appeal hearing.

On 4 August 2011, Ales Bialiastki was arrested in Minsk. We see Ales Bialiatski’s detention since August 2011 as a direct result of his legitimate activities in defence of human rights in Belarus.
On 24 November 2011, Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 4.5 years imprisonment with the confiscation of his property, including the property registered with other persons, on charges of tax evasion.

Today’s verdict is the consequence of the restrictions to the rights of freedom of association and expression imposed in Belarus. As many NGOs in Belarus, “Viasna” was repeatedly denied its registration, a refusal qualified as unfounded by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Therefore, Ales Bialiastki was forced to develop his human rights activities underground. He was not allowed to associate with others and express his opinions freely.

Today’s verdict validates a sentence in open violation to the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, including the rights, amongst others, to conduct human rights work individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of the occupation or profession of human rights defender, and to solicit, receive and utilize resources for the purpose of protecting human rights (including the receipt of funds from abroad).

States have a responsibility to implement and respect all the provisions of the above mentioned Declaration as well as to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of everyone against any violence, threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action resulting from the legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the Declaration.

Ales Bialiatski and his counsel will submit in due time a supervisory appeal to the chairman of the Minsk city court and subsequently to the Supreme Court.

We call upon the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus to immediately drop all charges held against Ales Bialiatski. We also urge Belarusian authorities to fully rehabilitate Ales Bialiatski. We believe that Belarusian authorities have to take all necessary measures to allow human rights defenders to work freely and with no abusive restrictions, including by providing registration to human rights organisations and to stop using the registration of NGOs as a tool to repress critical voices.

Supports