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Ales Bialiatski Released From Jail

2014-06-24

Belarusian Ales Bialiatski is a social activist, politician and defender of human rights. He stands at the head of the organization “Viasna”, which actively works to promote human rights and support families of political prisoners in Belarus. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and in 2006 was also presented with the Homo Homini Award by Vaclav Havel.

As a result of his opposition, Ales Bialiatski has been arrested over 20 times. On August 4th, 2011, Bialacki was arrested on charges of "tax evasion especially large sums"and was sentenced to 4 and half years in a maximum-securiy facility along with confiscation of property. This judgement has been heavily criticized by the community Belarusian opposition, human rights defenders, politicians and diplomats of EU countries, the United States as well as the Council of Europe.

In 2012, Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Lech Walesa Award for his contribution to the democratization of the Republic of Belarus and the active promotion of human rights and assistance to people persecuted by the current authorities in Belarus. He was presented with the award directly by Lech Walesa himself, and was also given a check for one hundred thousand American dollars, which his wife, Natalia Pinczuk, received during an official ceremony on September 29th.

Seeking his release have been the EU as well international human rights organizations.

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