On the 25^th of November Civil Society Institute NGO organized a protest in front of the Embassy of Republic of Belarus in Armenia condemning the unfair verdict of human rights activist Ales Bialiatski and demanding freedom for him.

Ales Bialiatski, FIDH Vice President and President of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" has been in prison in Belarus since the 4^th of August, 2011. He is accused of large-scale tax evasion. His trial started on the 2^nd of November, 2011 and on the 24^th of November, 2011, he was sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment.

Being a member organization of FIDH, CSI made an attempt to transfer the letter of FIDH to the Ambassador of Republic of Belarus, however, no one invited the protesters in. The organization will send the letter through post.

On the 25^th of November, the members of international Bureau of FIDH from Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Argentina, United States, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Finland, Mauritania, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Mexico, Tunisia, Malaysia and Armenia gathered in Paris in front of the Belarus Embassy to condemn the arbitrary detention of their Vice President and demand his immediate and unconditional release. 

Helsinki Committee of Armenia also joined the demand and organized a protest in front of the Embassy of Republic of Belarus in Armenia.

In October, 19 human rights organizations of Armenia created a postcard with words "Freedom for Ales Bialiatski". The aim was to inform the society about the problem. The postcard was also sent to Ales Bialiatski as a sign of support.

Facts:

Ales Bialiatski, FIDH Vice President and President of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" has been in prison in Belarus since the 4^th of August 2011. He is accused of large-scale tax evasion. 

His trial started on 2 November 2011. On the 24th of November he was sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment.

Ales Bialiatski's case was based on information provided to the Belarusian authorities by the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Poland, concerning accounts opened by Mr. Bialiatski in foreign banks to operate HRC "Viasna".

The Belarusian tax authorities wrongly considered the money on the account of Mr. Bialiatski's as his personal income and accused him of concealing it.

The authorities of Lithuania and Poland later apologized to Ales Bialiatski and his family and ceased the legal cooperation agreements with Belarus.

"Viasna" HRC realized activities in the field of human rights, defended those who were persecuted for their political views, and never concealed its activities. However, in 2003 the Supreme Court of Belarus made a decision of liquidation of the organization.

"Ales Bialiatski was arrested to illustrate a political will to destroy and discourage human rights activists in Belarus. FIDH and its member organization "Viasna" guarantee the innocence of Ales Bialiatski and call for his immediate, unconditional release", said Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President. 

"Since the presidential elections in December 2010, the Belarus authorities have intensified repressive measures against human rights defenders. Ales did not escape from the line of logic that destroys all freedom, and we fear that the authorities will turn this trial into an example to dissuade any and all opponents from speaking up", stressed Artak Kirakosyan, FIDH Secretary General. 

For more information on the circumstances of Ales Bialiatski's arrest and the trial procedures, go to: www.freeales.fidh.net.

Source: www.hra.am