#FreeViasna

Ales Bialiatski (Алесь Віктаравіч Бяляцкі) - is the founder and chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" and former vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (in 2007-2016).

Over 25 years of activity, Ales Bialiatski has received numerous prizes in the field of human rights: in 2006 - the Swedish Peer Anger Prize, the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award, the Homo Homini Award (awarded by Václav Havel); in 2011 - Human Rights Defender of the Year Award, Norwegian Writers' Union Award for Freedom of Speech; in 2012 - the U.S. State Department's Award, Lech Wałęsa Award, Petra Kelly Award; in 2013 - PACE's Václav Havel Human Rights Prize; in 2020 - the Right Livelihood Award. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times. Ales is the author of several books.

Ales Bialiatski was arrested on July 14, 2021 as part of a criminal case. His home and the organization's office were searched.

Statement on the status of political prisoner

Bialiatski faced charge of "tax evasion" (Art. 243 of the Criminal Code).

On September 26, 2022, it became known that the criminal charges of ‘tax evasion’ under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code against Valiantsin Stefanovic, Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, and other Viasna members were dropped. However, Bialiatski, Labkovich, and Stefanovic were not released from custody as they were charged with ‘smuggling’ by “having illegally moving cash across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union in large amounts by an organized group” under Part 4 Article 228 of the Criminal Code and with ‘the financing of group activities, grossly violating public order’ under Part 2 Article 342 of the Criminal Code. It is known that the state's claims remain for the same amount of money, which appeared in the charges for tax evasion.

On December 10, the International Human Rights Day, in Oslo, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony took place. This year, three nominees received the prestigious award at once: the head of Viasna Ales Bialiatski, the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties and the Russian Memorial human rights group. The human rights defender Ales Bialiatski could not personally receive the award — he has been behind bars under criminal charges for 17 months. That is why his wife Natallia Pinchuk received the award on behalf of Ales Bialiatski.

The Lieninski District Court of Minsk set the trial date in the criminal case against Viasna human rights defenders: chairman and Nobel Peace Prize 2022 laureate Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign coordinator Uladzimir Labkovich. Zmitser Salauyou, another defendant, has left Belarus and will be tried in absentia.

The trial of Viasna's human rights defenders began on January 5, 2023 and was very fast. In just 19 days, judge Maryna Zapasnik managed to listen to dozens of witnesses, examine 284 (!) volumes of the criminal case, and hear the testimonies of the imprisoned human rights defenders.

Oral arguments took place on February 9 and 10. Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol requested 12 years in a penal colony for Ales Bialiatski, which was the maximum term for the articles incriminated to the human rights defender.

“Enough is enough, we must stop this civil war”. Ales Bialiatski's last word in court

On March 3, 2023,the verdict in the Viasna case was announced. Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined 5,000 basic units (approx. $69,000). The court also ruled to recover from Bialiatski, Stefanovic, Labkovich and Salauyou a total of 752,438 rubles (almost $297,650), which they allegedly "obtained by criminal means" through "smuggling by an organized group."

The international community strongly criticized the sentencing of the Viasna human rights defenders.

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Valiantsin Stefanovic (Валянцін Канстанцінавіч Стэфановіч) is a member of Viasna's Board and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). He is a well-known expert and analyst in the field of human rights, advocate of non-discrimination and campaigner against the death penalty. Stefanovic participated in various international conferences and meetings, human rights and election observation missions in OSCE countries.

The security officers searched Stefanovic's home on the morning of July 14, confiscating all electronic devices and taking the human rights activist for interrogation, after which he was remanded in custody.

Statement on the status of political prisoner

Valiantsin Stefanovic faced charges of "tax evasion" (Art. 243 of the Criminal Code).

On September 26, 2022, it became known that the criminal charges of ‘tax evasion’ under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code against Valiantsin Stefanovic, Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, and other Viasna members were dropped. However, Bialiatski, Labkovich, and Stefanovic were not released from custody as they were charged with ‘smuggling’ by “having illegally moving cash across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union in large amounts by an organized group” under Part 4 Article 228 of the Criminal Code and with ‘the financing of group activities, grossly violating public order’ under Part 2 Article 342 of the Criminal Code. It is known that the state's claims remain for the same amount of money, which appeared in the charges for tax evasion.

The Lieninski District Court of Minsk set the trial date in the criminal case against Viasna human rights defenders: chairman and Nobel Peace Prize 2022 laureate Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign coordinator Uladzimir Labkovich. Zmitser Salauyou, another defendant, has left Belarus and will be tried in absentia.

The trial of Viasna's human rights defenders began on January 5, 2023 and was very fast. In just 19 days, judge Maryna Zapasnik managed to listen to dozens of witnesses, examine 284 (!) volumes of the criminal case, and hear the testimonies of the imprisoned human rights defenders.

Oral arguments took place on February 9 and 10. Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol requested 10 years in a penal colony for Valiantsin Stefanovic.

“We have not lived our lives in vain, we have prepared our successors”. Valiantsin Stefanovic's last word in court

On March 3, 2023,the verdict in the Viasna case was announced. Valiantsin Stefanovic was sentenced to 9 years in prison and fined 3,000 basic units (approx. $41,300). The court also ruled to recover from Bialiatski, Stefanovic, Labkovich and Salauyou a total of 752,438 rubles (almost $297,650), which they allegedly "obtained by criminal means" through "smuggling by an organized group."

The international community strongly criticized the sentencing of the Viasna human rights defenders.

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Leanid Sudalenka (Леанід Леанідавіч Судаленка) is head of Viasna's office in Homieĺ. He helped people prepare and submit numerous individual complaints to the UN Human Rights Committee in cases against Belarus.

For his human rights work, in 2018, he was awarded the prestigious prize of the French Republic “Freedom-Equality-Brotherhood”. In 2019, he won the National Human Rights Prize in the nomination “Human Rights Defender of the Year”.

Sudalenka was arrested on January 18, 2021. He was then remanded in custody and charged with "organizing actions that grossly violate public order" (Art. 342 of the Criminal Code), "training or other preparation of persons for such actions" and "financing these activities" (Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code).

Statement on the status of political prisoner

On September 3, 2021, the court of the Centraĺny district of Homieĺ started hearing the criminal charges against Leanid Sudalenka and Viasna volunteers Tatsiana Lasitsa and Maryia Tarasenka. Judge Siarhei Salouski ordered to hold the entire trial behind closed doors.

On November 3, Leanid Sudalenka was sentenced to three years in a medium-security penal colony.

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Uladzimir Labkovich (Уладзімір Мікалаевіч Лабковіч) - is a lawyer at Viasna and coordinator of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections".

Labkovich was arrested on July 14, 2021 together with his wife Nina Labkovich. Their apartment was searched. They were interrogated at the Department for Financial Investigations and then at the Investigative Committee.

Statement on the status of political prisoner

Uladzimir Labkovich faced charges of "tax evasion" (Art. 243 of the Criminal Code).

On September 26, 2022, it became known that the criminal charges of ‘tax evasion’ under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code against Valiantsin Stefanovic, Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, and other Viasna members were dropped. However, Bialiatski, Labkovich, and Stefanovic were not released from custody as they were charged with ‘smuggling’ by “having illegally moving cash across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union in large amounts by an organized group” under Part 4 Article 228 of the Criminal Code and with ‘the financing of group activities, grossly violating public order’ under Part 2 Article 342 of the Criminal Code. It is known that the state's claims remain for the same amount of money, which appeared in the charges for tax evasion.

The Lieninski District Court of Minsk set the trial date in the criminal case against Viasna human rights defenders: chairman and Nobel Peace Prize 2022 laureate Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign coordinator Uladzimir Labkovich. Zmitser Salauyou, another defendant, has left Belarus and will be tried in absentia.

The trial of Viasna's human rights defenders began on January 5, 2023 and was very fast. In just 19 days, judge Maryna Zapasnik managed to listen to dozens of witnesses, examine 284 (!) volumes of the criminal case, and hear the testimonies of the imprisoned human rights defenders.

Oral arguments took place on February 9 and 10. Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol requested 9 years in a penal colony for Uladzimir Labkovich.

“All my thoughts are with my family”. Uladzimir Labkovich's last word in court

On March 3, 2023,the verdict in the Viasna case was announced. Uladzimir Labkovich was sentenced to 7 years in prison and fined 3,000 basic units (approx. $41,300). The court also ruled to recover from Bialiatski, Stefanovic, Labkovich and Salauyou a total of 752,438 rubles (almost $297,650), which they allegedly "obtained by criminal means" through "smuggling by an organized group."

The international community strongly criticized the sentencing of the Viasna human rights defenders.

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Tatsiana Lasitsa (Таццяна Леанідаўна Ласіца) is a human rights activist based in Rečyca, a volunteer of the Homieĺ branch of the Human Rights Center "Viasna".

Lasitsa faced charges under Parts 1 and Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).

On September 3, 2021, the court of the Centraĺny district of Homieĺ started hearing the criminal charges against Leanid Sudalenka and Viasna volunteers Tatsiana Lasitsa and Maryia Tarasenka. Judge Siarhei Salouski ordered to hold the entire trial behind closed doors.

On November 3, Tatsiana Lasitsa was sentenced to 2.5 years in a medium-security penal colony.

On September, 24, 2022, Tatsiana Lasitsa was released from Gomel colony.

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Andrei Chapiuk (Андрэй Сяргеевіч Чапюк) is a volunteer working with Viasna.

Chapiuk was detained on October 2, 2020 in Minsk by GUBAZIK officers.

All his activities were exclusively peaceful and aimed at helping people who suffer for their political views and beliefs.

On October 9, Andrei was charged under Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code, "participation in riots". On January 28, 2021, the authorities said that Chapiuk was targeted in a new criminal case under Part 2 of Art. 285 of the Criminal Code, "participation in a criminal organization in any other form".

Statement on the status of political prisoner

On April 25 the Minsk City Court began hearings in the trial against Viasna member Marfa Rabkova and volunteer Andrey Chapiuk. Prosecutor Raman Biziuk requested a hearing in a closed session, because “there are materials of extremist nature in the materials of the criminal case”. The judge Siarhei Khrypach granted his petition and decided to close the hearing. All attendees were ordered out of the courtroom.

Andrey Chapiuk is charged under "preparation for mass rioting" (Part 1 of Art. 13 Art. 293 of the Criminal Code), "involvement in a criminal group" (Part 2 of Art. 285 of the same Code), also "incitement to hatred" (Part 1 Art. 130 of the same Code) and "desecration of buildings and damage to property" (Art. 341 of the same Code).

On September 6, 2022, Chapiuk was sentenced — he received six years in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 16,000 Belarusian rubles (more than $6,300).

On February 28, the Supreme Court considered behind closed doors the appeals of Viasna activists Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapiuk. The sentences of them were commuted for three months lesser imprisonment. Thus, the final verdict for Andrei is as follows: 5 years and 9 months of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 16,000 Belarusian rubles (more than $6,300).

The verdict came into force, and Andrei Chapiuk was transported to the colony.

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Marfa Rabkova (Марыя Аляксандраўна Рабкова) is a human rights activist and coordinator of Viasna's volunteer service.

Rabkova was detained together with her husband Vadzim Zharomski on the evening of September 17 and taken to the Minsk office of GUBAZIK (Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption). Their apartment was searched, and equipment, personal money and belongings were confiscated.

Statement on the status of political prisoner

Marfa Rabkova was later charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (training or other preparation of persons to participate in riots, or funding such activities).

On February 11, 2021, Rabkova faced new criminal charges of “inciting social hostility to the government by a group of unidentified individuals” (Part 3 of Art. 130) and “involvement in a criminal organization” (Part 2 of Art. 285 of the Criminal Code).

On April 25 the Minsk City Court began hearings in the trial against Viasna member Marfa Rabkova and volunteer Andrey Chapiuk. Prosecutor Raman Biziuk requested a hearing in a closed session, because “there are materials of extremist nature in the materials of the criminal case”. The judge Siarhei Khrypach granted his petition and decided to close the hearing. All attendees were ordered out of the courtroom.

Marfa Rabkova faces charges under ten articles of the Criminal Code, including "organising and financing group actions that grossly violate public order" (Parts 1 and 2 of Art. 342), “inciting social hostility to the government by a group of unidentified individuals” (Art. 130) and “involvement in a criminal organisation” (Part 2 of Art. 285).

On September 6, 2022, Rabkova was sentenced — she received 15 years in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 22,400 Belarusian rubles (more than $8,800).

“Every time we respond to someone else’s pain we bring our Belarus closer”. Marfa Rabkova's last word in court

On February 28, the Supreme Court considered behind closed doors the appeals of Viasna activists Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapiuk. The sentences of them were commuted for three months lesser imprisonment. Thus, the final verdict for Martha is as follows: 14 years and 9 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 22,400 Belarusian rubles (more than $8,800). In addition, the National State TV and Radio Company of Belarus made a claim on Rabkova and Frantskevich for 2,344 rubles 65 kopecks (approx. $925). The state duty of 117 rubles 23 kopecks (approx. $45) and procedural expenses of 5,168 rubles and 82 kopecks (approx. $2,000) were also charged to Rabkova.

The verdict came into force, and Marfa Rabkova was transported to the colony.

A number of international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Front Line Defenders, and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a partnership of the World Organization Against Torture and FIDH), supported Marfa Rabkova and demanded her immediate release.

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