Key takeaways:
- Ales Bialiatski, a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Belarusian court.
- The sentencing of Bialiatski and his co-defendants was met with condemnation from around the world.
- The international community is now calling on the Belarusian government to reverse the court’s decision and release Bialiatski and his co-defendants immediately.
On Friday, a Belarusian court sentenced Ales Bialiatski, the country’s top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, to 10 years in prison. According to the Russian state news agency TASS, Bialiatski was convicted of financing actions violating public order and smuggling. His co-defendants, Valentin Stefanovich and Vladimir Labkovich, were given nine-year and seven-year sentences respectively, while Dzmitry Salauyou was sentenced to eight years in absentia.
The sentencing of Bialiatski and his co-defendants was met with condemnation from around the world. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the charges and trial a “farce”, while exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya described the sentencing as “appalling”.
The Viasna human rights center, which Bialiatski founded, released a statement on Friday expressing its “outrage” at the court’s decision. The statement described the charges against Bialiatski and his co-defendants as “fabricated” and “politically motivated”.
The sentencing of Bialiatski has been widely condemned by international human rights organizations and activists. Amnesty International called the decision “a travesty of justice” and urged the Belarusian authorities to immediately release Bialiatski and his co-defendants.
The trial of Bialiatski and his co-defendants has been seen as a test of Belarus’ commitment to human rights and the rule of law. The international community is now calling on the Belarusian government to reverse the court’s decision and release Bialiatski and his co-defendants immediately.
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