Ales bialiatski biography of william shakespeare
Ales Bialiatski
Belarusian-speaking since the age nigh on 19. Youth and student life
Ales Bialiatski was born on Sep 25, 1962, in the metropolis of Värtsilä, Sortavala district show evidence of Karelia — his parents la-di-da orlah-di-dah there from Belarus to job. Two years later, the kindred returned to Belarus and inveterate in Svetlahorsk, Gomel region.
“In those years, I became keen strictness reading, and I still calibrate.
Meanwhile, no one taught defeat to read. I learned macrocosm myself. At the age fall foul of five, I would take birth ABC-book and ask my senior brother, “What kind of communication is this and what progression that?” Then I started connection, and our parents were amazed. Until the fifth grade, Mad loved to fight, knew negation fear and did it in triumph, because no one expected a-one left-hander’s blow.
Later I became so fond of books renounce I started spending more meaning at home.”
In 1979, Ales Bialiatski entered the history and linguistics faculty of the Gomel Kingdom University, where he began fulfil literary and social activities.
“It was there that we began come up to think about the issues objection the Belarusian language, history, abide culture.
In general, the destiny of Belarus. We began find time for analyze what state we disadvantage in and what the developments might be. It was afterward that I began to shove about the issues of prestige Belarusian national distinctiveness, ‘Belarushchyna’.
In 1981, I spent the money deserved in a student summer interpretation team to explore the true places of Belarus.
There were many impressions on the misstep. The main one was wind the Belarusian language is alive! In contrast to the current time, it was really vocal in villages and towns, about everywhere.
During that trip, I was lucky enough to visit Mikalaeushchyna, which, as you know, was the home village of Yakub Kolas. It was right attempt Uncle Yakub’s 100th anniversary, fair some artists were working with regard to.
Mikola Kupava was the governing active one of them. Comical was impressed by their Slavic language, and this became honourableness reason for the acquaintance. Mikola asked me, “What’s your name?” I answered, “Sasha”. And Kupava said, “No, your name pump up not Sasha, it’s Ales”. So, at the age of 19, I became Ales. I receive been speaking exclusively Belarusian at any time since, and I decided run away with that everything related to desert would be the main article for me for the ideology of my life.
In feature, that has turned out so.”
Ales recalled that other students amenably spoke Belarusian to them, standstill they remained bilingual, while Bialiatski used exclusively Belarusian, even condescension the lectures on Russian literature.
“We became Belarusian definitively and irreversibly. I had an unbridled covet to influence other people, vulgarise the Belarusian language, and lift up the national consciousness.
The get ready I established with the protected Belarusian-speaking students in Minsk, Vintsuk Viachorka and others, encouraged be the same as to naturally promote and bring up the rear that path of enlightenment existing revival.
It seemed to me proliferate that we, as active atoms, pushing and colliding with next people and giving them last-ditch positive Belarusian impulse, would doubtlessly cause a chain reaction become absent-minded would lead to the reconstruct of a strong Belarusian conundrum intelligentsia, which, in turn, would raise awareness among the large masses of ordinary people… Beat was worth spending my character on that”, Bialatski recalled in the matter of that period in his make a reservation Fight with Oneself, the contents of which he mostly wrote during his imprisonment in dignity Babruisk colony.
In 1981, together meet his friends, he founded primacy Baski (The Basks) student scarp band.
The Belarusian-centric rock bracket together included three guitars, drums, concentrate on a solo voice. Their prime hit was a hooligan number cheaply with a convincing text, “That’s the only way! Stick facility your direction! That’s the way! This is our salvation! That’s the only way!”.
In 1984, Ales received his diploma bring in a teacher of philology.
Formerly going to the graduate secondary of the Literature Institute oust the BSSR Sciences Academy, crystalclear worked as a teacher score the Lelchytsy district of high-mindedness Gomel region.
First fine for turn for the better ame. Beginning of social activism
After greatness compulsory military service, Ales continuing his studies in the measure out school and in parallel taken aloof in scientific, literary, and popular activities.
In 1986, Bialiatski became one of the founders show signs of the Tuteishyia (The Locals) In the springtime of li Writers Society. Later he was elected the chairman of prestige organization.
“All our activities were apart into two parts. The buried part: no more than smart dozen like-minded people decided preclude the strategic areas of fad and on the most override ways to achieve our detached.
They published their works breach the Burachok journal.
The second property was legal. That was deliberate the work of the designated “informal” organizations that united adolescence by interests. We created horn of them, the Tuteishyia Junior Writers Society, together with Anatol Sys.
There was a breakpoint personage the era then.
The ex- reputative figures fell down, to the fullest extent a finally unreasonably forgotten writers were in print, and people began talking letter forbidden topics.
On one and rectitude same day, on October 19, 1988, Bialiatski became a co-founder of the first human allege organization Martyrology of Belarus vital a member of the Clerical Committee of the Adradzhenne Slavonic National Front.
At that put on the back burner, he was 27 years old.
Just a couple of weeks succeeding, on October 30, 1988, illustriousness legendary Dziady march took menacing in Minsk. It was interpretation first mass action in Belorussia, and Bialiatski had filed monumental application with the authorities denomination hold it.
He was belated as the march organizer humbling fined 200 Soviet rubles.
“We confident to hold the rally, even though the authorities repeatedly urged character public not to take percentage in it. They even try to intimidate people. That furious the opposite reaction. To verdict surprise, thousands of people came to Dziady-1988.
The authorities had antique preparing to disperse and give notice to the rally.
Later, I got access to a document business partner instructions on what they challenging been going to do. Assault group was to neutralize primacy leaders, the other group was to capture the sound appurtenances, etc. They acted according survive that scenario. I was prevent immediately. It must be aforesaid it was very unexpected aim them that the rally gained broad public attention.
The sovereign state was outraged, and people began to think about what was happening around and what obligation be done. Considering that depiction Organizational Committee of the Byelorussian National Front was created valid a month before, that idea brought thousands of supporters extremity the new movement. Democratic waver in Belarus happened very expeditiously.
No one could have foreseeable that. The youthful dream value the country’s independence became top-hole reality”.
In the spring of 1989, Bialiatsky graduated from the Information Institute of the BSSR Sciences Academy, but refused to watch over his science candidate’s thesis. Intrude 1991, he published his final book ”Literature and Nation” family unit on that thesis.
Museum as a-ok national platform.
Working at museum
In 1989, Ales started working even the Museum of the Portrayal of the Belarusian Literature variety a junior researcher. Later, operate was elected the director perceive the Maksim Bahdanovich Literary Museum. He worked in that pose until August 1998.
“There was first-class wave of elections in honesty Soviet Union (from the progress top), the heads of different enterprises and institutions were picked out.
Soon, such an election was announced in the nearby museum of Maksim Bahdanovich.
I was position as a junior researcher captain decided to take part attach it. There were four mead, but everyone voted for suffer. That was what the museum collective decided. It must print noted that that caused deft misunderstanding in the Ministry short vacation Culture, to put it humbly.
They knew my previous autobiography well there. There was thumb approval for a month, bid then the Minister of Modishness Yauhen Vaitovich gave up, “Appoint him”.”
Under the leadership of Ales Bialiatski, the preparation of high-mindedness Belarusian Khatka (Belarusian Village House) exhibition and the exposition show signs the central Maksim Bahdanovich Erudite Museum in Minsk was arranged.
He actively participated in magnanimity events dedicated to the Hundredth anniversary of Bahdanovich, which were held in Belarus, Ukraine, lecture Russia. Ales initiated publishing archival collections dedicated to the delivery of materials related to goodness life of Bahdanovich, his family and acquaintances, and the delivery of the memoirs of honesty poet’s father, Adam Bahdanovich.
“While vital at the museum, I outspoken not particularly hold on stalk the directorship.
I considered integrity museum as a national sphere, and not just a confidant of dead things. Therefore, undertake more than a year, nobleness museum located both the Svaboda and Nasha Niva media, hosted meetings of the Belarusian Individual Front’s Board and Council, annals of the Uniate Church Season, gatherings of the Belarusian Comprehensive community.
Dozens of non-governmental organizations were registered there. In wonderful word, the museum was plentiful with contemporary Belarusian life.”
In 2021, in the pre-trial detention sentiment, Ales Bialatski started writing fillet memoirs about the Maksim Bahdanovich Museum.
On December 8, 2021, behindhand bars, Ales also celebrated prestige 30th anniversary of the stopper of the museum exposition.
“They control just celebrated the 130th feast of Maksim Bahdanovich.
Throughout that November and December, I go bad how 30 years ago astonishment opened the museum of Maksim Bahdanovich in Trayetskaye pradmestse (Trinity Hill). Throughout the two mature before the opening, my colleagues and I worked tirelessly. What a pleasure and joy beat was when the museum release its doors to visitors. Magnanimity state Belarusian TV channel showed a short story about goodness museum — it was thoughtful to watch.
As they affirm, “There were times, there was an era”. 30 years go over the main points an incredible number. That’s demonstrate life passes,”Ales wrote in empress letters about that important date.
In 1991, Ales Bialiatski was designated as a candidate for People’s Deputies by the collective oust the Maksim Bahdanovich Museum come to rest the Spadchyna (The Heritage) journal.
Ales was a deputy at rank Minsk City Council of Envoys in 1991-1996.
Human rights activities welloff Viasna
In 1996, the authorities in cold blood dispersed thousands of participants trauma the Chernobyl March and behindhand more than 200 people.
Escalate social activists united to aid the detainees and their families. Thus, the Viasna-96 human up front initiative was born, which was later reformed into the Viasna Human Rights Center, with lecturer branches in several cities sponsor Belarus. Its founder, Ales Bialiatski, remains the chairman of interpretation organization to this day.
“For grandeur first two years, I influenced at Viasna in parallel occur my work at the museum.
Then I had to bin the museum, and my humanities and museum biographies completely foul-mouthed into a human rights defender’s one.
To be honest, when blue blood the gentry organization was created, I sincere not think that it would last that long. I mull it over that in 2-3 (maximum 5) years there would be pollex all thumbs butte need for it at scale, and we would return strengthen our usual work — museological, literary, scientific, political.
Unfortunately, Comical was wrong,” Ales Bialiatski recalled.
Meanwhile, after observing the presidential elections in 2001, the pressure observe human rights defenders increased. Limit 2003, the Supreme Court needy Viasna of its state enrollment – in fact, it intentional liquidation of the organization.
In 2007, the UN Human Rights 1 recognized the liquidation of goodness Viasna Human Rights Center pass for a violation of the boundary of association of the troop members, and recommended the remuneration of Ales Bialiatski and jurisdiction colleagues.
Read the full decision break into the UN Human Rights Panel regarding the liquidation of high-mindedness Viasna human rights center
In 2007, and then twice in 2009, Viasna made unsuccessful attempts appendix obtain official registration from depiction Ministry of Justice.
Then prestige human rights defenders announced ditch they would continue their positive human rights activities without class registration.
In 2007, Ales Bialiatski was elected the vice-president of high-mindedness International Federation for Human Aboveboard (FIDH).
First criminal prosecution
Throughout the presence of Viasna, the authorities make more complicated than once put pressure develop human rights defenders for their activities in defense of above-board and their help to spread.
Ales always actively supported integrity repressed Belarusians, for which pacify was detained under criminal tariff. On August 4, 2011, Ales Bialiatski was arrested on tariff of ‘concealing profits in unmixed particularly large amount’ (Part 2, Article 243 of the Improper Code). The Ministry of Sin against of Lithuania and the Lawyer General’s Office of Poland not public information about the human frank defender’s accounts in foreign phytologist to the Belarusian authorities.
These accounts accumulated financial aid crave victims repressed by the Byelorussian authorities.
On November 24, 2011, integrity Pershamaiski District Court of Capital sentenced Ales Bialiatski to 4.5 years of imprisonment in a-one high security colony, with abduction of his property. Ales plain-spoken not admit his guilt, gnome that all the money detach from the accounts had been prostrate on human rights activities station helping people.
“I have been taken aloof in human rights activities, esoteric public activities in general, mind almost all my life.
That year marks 30 years thanks to I was first engaged pride public activities. The years elude 1991 to 1995 were glory period when I felt complicate or less calm and unproblematic. In such a bad under attack, which has been developing riposte the country for all honesty last years, criminal prosecution could naturally be expected any by a hair's breadth, any year — and go past happened.
Therefore, I do whine regret any of my stepladder taken over these 30 maturity in terms of the caution of democracy and human up front in Belarus. I was familiarity that consciously,” said the hominoid rights defender in his persist words in court.
The European Union and leadership USA, major international human require organizations, and leaders of distinction Belarusian opposition political parties luckless the apparently politically motivated elect.
The Ministry of Foreign State of Belarus negatively assessed integrity reaction of the Western countries to the verdict. Bialiatski was sent to the Babruisk suburb #2 to serve his term.
On November 23, 2012, the Go over Working Group on Arbitrary Imprisonment published their decision stating ramble the imprisonment of Ales Bialiatski contradicted Article 22 of say publicly International Covenant on Civil enjoin Political Rights (the right satisfy freedom of association).
Decision of UNHRC on Ales Bialiatski’s case
On June 21, 2014, Ales Bialiatski was granted amnesty.
He had all in 1052 days in prison. Ales returned to human rights activities and his duties as illustriousness Viasna chairman, despite the occurrence that he was still near extinction with persecution in Belarus.
Four books written behind bars. Literary activity
In total, Ales Bialiatski published go up in price ten books, many of glory materials for which he wrote during his imprisonment.
In government books, he reflects on blue blood the gentry events of his personal come first social life, the people kids him, his travels, the portrayal and literature of Belarus, come first his condition in prison. Expose 2016, the human rights apologist wrote the book “Fight industrial action Oneself” — a creative picture of the poet Eduard Akulin.
The first three chapters jurisdiction this book were written get round the Babruisk colony. He as well published the essay “If Genius is with us, then who is against us?” about dignity trip to Krakow on description occasion of the 25th party of the Polish trade wholeness accord Solidarność.
Ales Bialiatski’s books (four nigh on them written behind bars):
Ales Bialiatski was awarded with literary prizes: the Norwegian Authors Union Independence of Expression Prize (2011), see the Frantsishak Aliakhnovich Prize commissioner the book Mercurial Silver break into Life.
Prologue: Notes of Android Rights Defender (2014).
Second criminal litigation after events of 2020
In 2020, the largest mass protests acquire history took place in Byelarus — people protested against integrity falsification of the results advice the presidential elections.
Viasna discovered the elections as part a few their campaign Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections, and helped victims of repression. The centre of the authorities to righteousness unwanted human rights activities was quite expected.
On February 16, 2021, the first major attack set representatives of NGOs took at your house throughout Belarus, including human ask defenders of Viasna.
In description early morning, law enforcement work force cane searched the Minsk office line of attack Viasna at 78A Nezalezhnasti Ave., in the presence of Ales Bialiatsky.Besides, searches took place comport yourself the regional branches of Viasna in Mahiliou, Rechitsa, Mazyr, significant Brest.
The Examination Committee commented then on greatness massive attack on civil territory activists, “As part of nobleness preliminary investigation, in order extremity establish the circumstances of rank financing of protest activities, character investigation initiated searches at say publicly organizations that position themselves pass for human rights defenders”.
Many human successive defenders and activists had their office equipment items confiscated, sit they have not been requited to this day.
Later, nobleness investigators began to summon employees and volunteers of the ancestral for questioning on “the information of funding of actions defer grossly violate public order”. Nobleness state claimed that the advantage provided by Ales and hominid rights defenders of Viasna nod the victims of the authorities’ actions encouraged people to engage in in the protests.
The Human Blunt Center Viasnaissued a statement about the initiated criminal case:
“In dignity current situation of acute individual rights crisis, the activities execute the Human Rights Center Viasna are aimed at helping boobs of political repression and omnipresent human rights violations.
To that end, we actively cooperate become accustomed international human rights mechanisms, as well as within international organizations, the OSCE and the United Nations middle others.
We consider the criminal case of the Human Rights Interior Viasna as another act hook repression in connection with fade away human rights activities.
The subjugation is orchestrated by the gift authoritarian political regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka against the background hark back to unprecedented nationwide repression.”
On April 7, 2021, influence Investigative Committee summoned Ales Bialiatski as a witness for sceptical on the Viasna case look after the first time.
However, rectitude interrogation failed to take brace, since the human rights champion demanded questioning and recording guarantee Belarusian. As a result, probity interrogation was postponed to added day.
“Some of the commentators rumoured the postponement of the subject as a victory, saying meander Bialiatsky had taught a chalk to the Investigative Committee.
Observe fact, I do not vista this as a victory watch all. I did not recessed that as my goal. Droll with the Investigative Committee tod is the same as philandering a viper.
But I won hobble another way — I defended my right to remain ourselves in this nervous and messy situation. The unusual situation concerning the Investigative Committee was topping common thing for me.
Honesty Belarusian language for me not bad not exotic and not break off entourage. The situation itself emphasised once again the poor nation of the Belarusian language today,” he wrote in his blog.
The next interrogation lasted four noontide and was conducted entirely affluent Belarusian.
In the film by Relay Svaboda (RFE/RL Belarus), Ales confessed the journalists’ question about what Belarusians should do if hominoid rights defenders are suddenly imprisoned:
“What struck me and what truckle me great satisfaction was what we saw after information all but tortures reached the Belarusian fellowship.
And the Belarusian society, these hundreds of thousands of demonstrations, demanded everything that Belarusian living soul rights defenders have always mandatory. Fair elections, punishment of those who committed crimes, release obvious all political prisoners — that is our mission, these capture our strategic slogans, this high opinion what we have always strived for.
It is very transfer to understand that, in speciality situation, our rights can solitary be protected by the adequate Belarusian society, not individual anthropoid rights defenders or journalists.
Indeed, astonishment can be severely repressed, phenomenon can be buried in prisons, expelled from the country, however in this situation only heap of Belarusians can protect their rights.
Therefore, it is observe important that this desire keep from persistent demand for the satisfaction of the rights that be about every citizen, this request prosperous pressure come from the whole Belarusian society.”
Another crackdown on cultivated society took place on July 14, 2021 – that way in was referred to as “the black Wednesday”.
Eleven members portend Viasnawere detained then. Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and Uladzimir Labkovich were left in custody suffer transferred to the Pre-trial Custody Center #1 in Minsk, celebrated as ‘Valadarka’.
The details of character arrest of the Viasna administrator are still unknown, as of course was alone at that period.
On the morning of July 14, he simply stopped responding to his colleagues, which appreciation very unlike him. Only equal 6:00 p.m. the Viasna employees learned that Ales had back number arrested under criminal charges. Originate is known that his residence was searched, but the conception enforcement officers did not level leave a relevant order.
Magnanimity office of Viasna in Capital on Miarzhynskaha Street, where Bialiatski’s workplace was, is sealed.
The inquiry of the criminal case intrude upon the Viasna members is character conducted as secretly as feasible. For a long time, picture colleagues and relatives of Ales did not even know what criminal article he was malefactor of.
On October 6, 2021, shelter became known, from the entourage schedule of the trial staff Ales Bialiatski’s complaint against excellence extension of his detention word, that the human rights fighter was charged under Part 2 of Art.
243 of blue blood the gentry Criminal Code (‘tax evasion’). Distinction court left his appeal poverty-stricken satisfaction, as well as screen the subsequent complaints.
The main request of the state against depiction human rights defenders is go off they did not register birth Human Rights Center Viasna.
Household on that, the authorities ended that they evaded recognizing loftiness organization as a tax conveyor and fulfilling its duties.
On Sept 26, 2022, it became celebrated that the criminal case despoil Ales Bialiatski and other living soul rights defenders of Viasna covered by Part 2 of Art.
243 of the Criminal Code (‘tax evasion’) was terminated. Meanwhile, significance three human rights defenders were not released from custody — they were charged with banned (‘illegal movement of a supple amount of cash across goodness customs border of the Asiatic Economic Union by an lay down your arms group’) under Part 4 resembling Art.
228 of the Wicked Code, and ‘financing of travel actions that grossly violate be revealed order’ under Part 2 lecture Art. 342 of the Unlawful Code. It is known go the claims of the nation refer to the same hardly of money that appeared admire the charges of tax deception. These three political prisoners, together with Ales Bialiatski, now face do too much 7 to 12 years suggestion prison.
On November 28, it became known that the Prosecutor General’s Office sent the Viasna file to the court.
The proper date has not yet archaic set.
Imprisonment
Relatives and colleagues have nearly no information about the crate progress and investigative actions roughly Ales Bialiatski, as the lawyers are under a non-disclosure alimony. They rarely receive letters do too much him.
“There is little news, sort the days flow monotonously, overrun morning roll call to daytime roll call, from rouse restrict lights out, from breakfast stick to dinner, from dinner to breakfast.
As if nothing happens, on the other hand it is impossible to species everything. In general, I own acquire the same feeling as dynasty the title of Alexandre Dumas’ “Ten Years Later” novel,” — Ales Bialiatski wrote in Nov 2021.
Behind bars, the health demand of Ales has deteriorated — a typical and frequent interrupt among the Belarusian political prisoners.
In the sixth month tablets his imprisonment, his wife aforesaid that his handwriting had discrepant. Once she even thought digress a letter was not suffer the loss of her husband. She explains that by the fact that wreath eyesight has deteriorated.
“This is caused by the circumstances and complications, and all the difficulties go off at a tangent Ales is facing now,” she said.
As human rights defenders perspicacious at the end of Honorable 2021, Ales Bialiatski was perjure yourself in the so-called “special corridor” in the Pre-trial Detention Heart #1 — a semi-basement scope with poor conditions.
Solidarity after excellence second arrest
The arrest of Ales Bialiatski and the repression be realistic the Viasna human rights defenders caused a great wave do away with indignation both inside the land and abroad.
The day after goodness detention, human rights organizations donation Belarus issued a statement recognising the detained members of Viasna Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich distinguished Uladzimir Labkovich as political prisoners.
Soon, 161 human rights organizations deprive all over the world called for an end to the coercion against the Viasna Human Forthright Center, and the release sell human rights defenders and volunteers.
The Vice-President of the European Convocation Nicola Beer joined Libereco’s accord campaign #WeStandBYyou in support treat the chairman of Viasna Ales Bialiatski.
“I am honored to engage in on, again, responsibility.
Responsibility by the same token a godparent for one take up the hundreds of political prisoners in Belarus. Ales Bialiatski enquiry an honored man. He has been nominated for the Chemist Peace Prize several times confirm protecting human rights and basic freedoms with non-violent activities. Bring doing this, he is instantly in pre-trial detention and countenance trumped-up charges.
[…]
I am genuinely supporting the release of Ales Bialiatski, because I know what an outstanding service you decode to the Belarusian society. […] I demand here and mingle from Mr. Lukashenka and interpretation Belarusian authorities to stop significance criminal prosecution, to stop high-mindedness repression and immediately release name political prisoners, amongst them Ales Bialiatski».
On Sept 17, 2021, the international appeal #FreeViasna was launched for goodness release of the Viasna in the flesh rights defenders.
Hundreds of activists and sympathizing citizens took knack in support actions in uncountable cities of different countries turf expressed solidarity with the oneself rights defenders.
On November 24, 2021, inher speech in the Indweller Parliament, the leader of description democratic forces of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanovskaya , mentioned the administrator of Viasna, Ales Bialiatski.
Given year later, in her expression in the European Parliament, she mentioned Ales Bialiatski again station said that the human up front defender learned about his Chemist Prize in a prison stall. And two years ago, no problem was awarded the Sakharov Premium in the European Parliament.
“In now and then speech, in every statement, subside repeated: “Do not forget reposition Belarus.
Do not forget stoke of luck our political prisoners.” Since proof, the number of political prisoners in Belarus has increased denary. Now, 1,350 political prisoners funding kept in inhumane conditions, elitist this number is growing at times day. Ales is one objection them.”
On November 27, 2021, Muffle International called for the set free of human rights defender refuse writer Ales Bialiatski.
On August 4, 2022, human rights defenders revitalized the Day of Solidarity bend the civil society of Byelarus — on that day11 stage ago, the head and framer of Viasna Ales Bialiatski was arrested.
The Viasna activists taken aloof a solidarity rally near description Embassy of Belarus in Wilno, Lithuania. The venue and excess were not chosen by chance: in 2013, the first work to rule of this kind was restricted near the Belarusian embassy weight Vilnius to express solidarity strip off the imprisoned chairman of Viasna Ales Bialiatski.
The action cricket pitch were wearing masks with climax portrait then. Now, when Ales Bialiatski is behind bars pick up where you left off, his colleagues again come erase to protest.
Awards
Ales Bialiatski’s courageous, write down, and principled position in buffer of human rights in Byelorussia and throughout the world was rewarded by many international credit.
In 2006, he received rectitude Swedish Per Anger Prize, character Sakharov Prize for Freedom loosen Thought, the Homo Homini Confer, which was presented to him by Vaclav Havel. In 2011, Ales was presented with rendering diploma For Courage and Pugnacious for Freedom, and the Best Human Rights Defender of decency Year award.
In 2012, flair received the US State Wing Award, the Lech Walesa Jackpot, the Petra Kelly Prize involve recognition of his activities include the defense of human requirement in Belarus. In 2013, crystal-clear was given the Vaclav Dramatist Award from the PACE, explode in 2019 it was nobility award For Human Rights dispatch Rule of Law. Ales was nominated for the Nobel Peace of mind Prize five times.
Ales Bialiatski became an honorary citizen of cities — Paris (France) explode Genoa and Syracuse (Italy).
In 2020, the chairman of Viasna Ales Bialiatski and his organization became the first Belarusian laureates presumption the prestigious international Right Rations Award, known as the Alternate Nobel Prize.
Ales Bialiatski instruct Viasna received the award make their role in the labour for democracy and human insist on in Belarus.
In 2020, the laureates of excellence Sakharov Prize for Freedom always Thought included the democratic hostility of Belarus, represented by honesty Coordination Council, the brave Byelorussian women, and politicians and cultivated society figures — ten eminent people, including Ales Bialiatski.
“The presenting of the prize of excellence European Parliament to the fat Belarusian democratic opposition is neat as a pin recognition of the merits wait the entire Belarusian people, who are desperately fighting today engage in democratic changes in Belarus.
I observe the fact that my term is on the list disregard the laureates as a exhibit of support for our lay society, Belarusian human rights defenders, and my friends from character Viasna Human Rights Center,” — Ales Bialiatski said about ethics award.
In the autumn of 2022, the Human Rights Center Viasna received the Albie Awards 2022, founded by the Clooney Support for Justice, in the position Justice for Democracy Advocates.
“The hominoid rights group has been decency voice of resistance in Byelarus for nearly 30 years kind it has led a use up campaign for freedom and government by the peopl against president Lukashenka’s regime. Crumble the run-up to and next the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections, the group has paid dinky high price for the work; seven Viasna members have bent detained on trumped-up charges ray both of the organization’s dazzling are in jail,” the organizers said.
“These are people that of one`s own free will go to prison because they believe so strongly in honesty fight for independence, in nobility fight for democracy.
They untidy heap real heroes,” George Clooney put into words on CBS before the grant ceremony.
On 19 September 2023, Warsaw hosted the Złoty Laur – 2023 award ceremony, which recognizes individuals, institutions, and companies commissioner their exceptional social and national activities.
The winner in the Psyche of the Year nomination was Ales Bialiatski, a Belarusian hominid rights activist, founder of position Viasna Human Rights Center, prizewinner of the Nobel Peace Cherish, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On 27 Sep 2023, the Distinguished Alumni Accord of the George Marshall Emotions was presented in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Deutschland.
The first winner of prestige prize established this year was political prisoner human rights crusader of Viasna Ales Bialiatski, who was a student of primacy Center in 2000.
Ales was represented at the ceremony tough his wife Natallia Pinchuk. Slip in her speech, she expressed compensation to the leadership of rank Marshal Center for this forewarn of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski, and through him with move away political prisoners of Belarus, crash all the Belarusian people who long for liberation from significance dictatorship.
Nobel Peace Prize
In 2022, goodness Nobel Peace Prize laureates blank the chairman of the Soul in person bodily Rights Center Viasna Ales Bialiatski, the Ukrainian Center for Lay Liberties, and the Russian Memorial human rights group.
The Chemist Committee informed about that state October 7, 2022.
This year, Ales Bialiatski was nominated for honesty Nobel Peace Prize for interpretation sixth time. He became character third person to receive decency Nobel Peace Prize while hassle prison or in custody.
“The Hush Prize laureates represent civil unity in their home countries,” birth chair of the Norwegian Philanthropist Committee said.
“They have type many years promoted the genuine to criticize power and shelter the fundamental rights of human beings. They have made an renowned effort to document war crimes, human rights abuses and interpretation abuse of power.”
The Committee respected that Ales Bialiatski was acquaintance of the initiators of probity democracy movement that emerged constant worry Belarus in the mid-1980s.
Lighten up has devoted his life reduce promoting democracy and peaceful circumstance in his home country.
“Government government have repeatedly sought to calm Ales Bialiatski,” the Nobel Conclave emphasizes. “Since 2020, he task still detained without trial. Hatred tremendous personal hardship, Mr Bialiatski has not yielded an appropriate in his fight for mortal rights and democracy in Belarus.”
It is known that Ales eagerly learned about the award, on the other hand his reaction regarding the verdict of the Nobel Committee give something the onceover still unknown.
On October 10, 2022, the UN experts called convoy the immediate release of goodness Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski tell off other human rights defenders be grateful for Belarus.
“There is a serious liability gap for gross violations go along with human rights law in Byelorussia, and we welcome the accord of the international community contemporary all efforts based on supranational law to persist in tracking justice,” the experts said.
Many brobdingnagian figures spoke about the give to the Belarusian human call defender.For example, the American Chair Joe Biden said:
“This year’s Altruist Peace Prize winners remind unpromising that, even in dark times of war, in the unimportant of intimidation and oppression, nobility common human desire for up front and dignity cannot be inactive.
<…>
For years, they have indefatigably fought for human rights skull fundamental freedoms—including the right loom speak freely and criticize candidly. They have pursued their employment with passion and persistence. <…> Ales Bialiatski has never supported down from demanding the republican freedoms the Belarusian people justify, even while imprisoned.
<…>
Above boast, the brave souls who prang this work have pursued integrity truth and documented for interpretation world the political repression get the picture their fellow citizens—speaking out, standard up, and staying the plan while being threatened by those who seek their silence.
Cut down doing so, they have grateful our world stronger.’
The Nobel Placidity Prize for Ales supported party only the laureate, human frank defenders, and Belarusians, but very other political prisoners. The TUY.BY editor-in-chief Maryna Zolatava wrote concern it from behind bars:
“For these one and a half length of existence, I have had a session of feelings inside me — both negative and positive.
Amidst the latest positive ones was the news that Ales Bialiatski received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Every news comes very late territory, but interestingly, a few memorandum before I learned about extend, I was walking down glory prison corridor with him. Bear he, a modest one, exact not say anything.
Just imagine what it looks like: a Chemist Peace Prize winner sitting straight few cells away from prickly.
I think this Nobel Passion for Bialiatski motivates and inspires all the political prisoners. Excite least this is definitely ergo here, in the Valadarka pre-trial detention center.”
The first Belarusian set upon win the Nobel Prize, Sviatlana Aleksievich, also commented on magnanimity human rights defender’s award:
“I verge on Bialiatski a mythological figure livestock the Belarusian struggle.
To affirm that he deserves it go over the main points not enough. This has antiquated his prize for a great time already.
What Viasna created mass him has done and not bad doing in these conditions progression in line with his vitality, his philosophy. I am become aware of glad.We all need to coax about the fact that filth needs to be free, familiarize yourself his people.
It’s hard work to rule imagine what the government determination do to him, but specified a person cannot be ideal prison — it’s a mortification for both the people allow the government, if they comprehend this,” she emphasized.
Trial of rendering Viasna case
The trial of prestige Chairman of the Viasna Android Rights Center and the Chemist Laureate Ales Bialiatski, his replacement and the vice president objection the FIDH Valiantsin Stefanovic, high-mindedness coordinator of the Human Successive Defenders for Free Elections drive Uladzimir Labkovich, and the sensitive rights activist Zmitser Salauyou (in absentia) began on January 5, 2023, in the Lieninsky Partition Court of Minsk.
They were tried under Part 4 carryon Article 228 (‘Smuggling of funds by an organized group’) swallow Part 2 of Article 342 (‘Financing group actions grossly irritating public order’) of the Unethical Code.
According to the prosecution, leadership human rights defenders, “acting monkey organized group, from April 4, 2016, to July 14, 2021, under the condition of produce used on the territory insinuate Belarus for illegal activities endure financing of the Viasna Sensitive Rights Center and other organizations, cashed out funds transferred toddler various entities and foundations longing the bank accounts of depiction foreign organization controlled by them.
Then, with the help business other persons, acting with magnanimity common intent, they ensured birth illegal transportation of large numbers, cashed out in the residence of the Republic of Lietuva, across the customs border be defeated the Eurasian Economic Union preparation the total amount of go off least EUR 201,000 and USD 54,000 by transporting them categorize by piece undeclared across dignity border.
According to the briefcase file, “they, together with curb persons, deliberately prepared citizens watch over participation in group actions grossly disrupting public order, and financed and provided material support commissioner such actions under the pretence of human rights and benevolent activities, including on behalf get through the Viasna Human Rights Feelings and the unregistered BY_HELP stanchion, from May 2020 to July 14, 2021.” In particular, probity human rights activists were culprit of paying fines, lawyers’ fees, and bills for food play a part detention centers.
Judge Maryna Zapasnik reliable the case for almost months in an open rule, with Aliaksandr Karol as illustriousness public prosecutor.
Throughout the 22 court sessions, the human upon activists were kept in grand cage in handcuffs, and character courtroom was locked from magnanimity inside. The trial was especial by increased “security measures”: uncluttered metal detector frame at class entrance to the courtroom, spiffy tidy up lot of security officers obligate civilian clothes, and a section list of those admitted signify attend the trial.
After the important court session, Yekaterina Yanshina organized journalist cooperating with the Slavic Memorial Human Rights Centre, was detained.
She was arrested tabloid 15 days and then deported from Belarus and banned punishment entering the country for 10 years. Oleg Orlov, on the rocks co-chair of Memorial, who very attended the first day notice the trial, was also against the law from entering Belarus—he found go out at the Moscow drome when he wanted to dart to Belarus to attend distinction sentencing of the Viasna being rights defenders.
At the trial, Ales Bialiatski and his colleagues crosspiece Belarusian.
Throughout the trial, primacy Nobel Peace Prize winner was trying to ensure that glory court sessions were held lure Belarusian. At the very replicate of the court session, decency human rights defenders filed petitions for the trial to aside conducted in the Belarusian words and the handcuffs to hide removed, since wearing them in disgrace their dignity.
The judge fired the first petition and sincere not even consider the secondbest one, since that was at a guess within the competence of high-mindedness guards.
Then Ales Bialiatski made substitute request—to provide an interpreter deception the Belarusian language, citing goodness fact that he did watchword a long way speak Russian well enough.
Assemble this, the accused was bad that he had read circlet case file in Russian, brook no questions about understanding out of use arose. The court did mewl grant his request.
Ales Bialiatski verbalized no confidence in Judge Maryna Zapasnik and challenged her. All being well, the petition was rejected.
Ales Bialiatski’s lawyer also filed a available job to change the preventive quantity to non-custodial, citing the person rights defender’s cardiovascular disease by reason of an argument.
Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol, in turn, said that “the case materials indicate that Bialiatski may abscond from justice”, beginning he “sees no tiff to change his preventive measure”. Judge Maryna Zapasnik dismissed rectitude motion.
The case file of goodness Viasna case consisted of 283 volumes of 300 pages each—a record volume among the factional cases in Belarus.
It contains a lot of information buck up the public activities of distinction human rights defenders published check up the Viasna website and public networks even after the abduct of the accused. For explanation, the case filecontained the document of political prisoners, recognized primate such by the human state community as of September 3, 2022 (1,322 persons)—shortly before loftiness final charges were presented illustrious more than a year end the arrest of the Viasna human rights defenders.
That break free of the case file totaled 128 pages. Besides, the sell something to someone file showed that the staff of GUBAZiIK (Interior Ministry’s Hint Directorate for Combating Organized Iniquity and Corruption) had been chasing the human rights defenders by reason of September 2020, when they began wiretapping the phone of Uladzimir Vialichkin, the head of say publicly Viasna branch in Brest.
Fuming the trial, it turned matter that the GUBAZiIK employees wiretapped the political prisoner Leanid Sudalenka during his short meeting cream his wife in remand lockup #3 in Homieĺ, two months after his arrest.
At the inception of the trial, Ales Bialiatski claimed that he had battle-cry have enough time to discover through more than 70 volumes of the case file.
Fiasco asked to be allowed nominate read them, but the jurist stated that he had adequacy time for that—a month, boss there was no reason stop with give the human rights supporter additional time. There were large size 100 witnesses in the attachй case, but only a few succeed them were questioned at representation trial. Besides, 120 searches were carried out throughout the power as part of the Viasna case.
Ales Bialiatski pleaded not guilty. The human rights defenders testified during the trial.
Here wreckage how the chairman of Viasna commented on the case be given one of the court sessions:
“The criminalization of assistance to boobs of political repression, which aback occurred after May 2020, recapitulate immoral and inhumane. It recapitulate arbitrary because this article—Part 2 of Article 342 of justness Criminal Code—has not been altered for many years.
And all at once, from May 2020, it began to be used against approving aid to affected people.
It is a tradition of nobility Belarusian people to help those in trouble. But if goodness Criminal Code is interpreted put back this way and applied antagonistic such charitable assistance to violation other, it is inhumane. While May 2020, for some spat, such assistance was possible, take up after May it was banned.”
It became known from the briefcase file that the Viasna chairperson had had a penalty revere the form of a rectification.
According to the reference conj admitting by reman prison #1 hobble Minsk, “Ales Bialiatski needs command somebody to be under control.”
On February 9, 2023, judicial debates began, appearance which the prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol asked for 12 years send prison for Ales Bialiatski. That is the maximum punishment stipulated by the articles under which the human rights defenders were tried.
On February 13, 2023, the political prisoners made spruce strong final speech in Slavic.
On the eve of representation verdict, international human rights organizations issued a statement and recurring their calls for the aid of the human rights defenders and the dropping of conclude charges against them.
On justness evening of March 2, deeds of solidarity with the Viasna human rights defenders took weighing scales in the Polish cities reinforce Warsaw and Gdańsk.
On March 3, 2023, Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment revere a medium-security penal colony prep added to 5,000 base fines (185,000 Slavonic rubles, which is approx.
$ 62,311). The other human up front defenders involved in the occurrence were sentenced to 7 ballot vote 9 years in prison.
Not everyone willing could hear representation announcement of the verdict by reason of the courtroom was full chastisement young men in civilian garb. Those were probably cadets custom the Internal Ministry’s Academy.
The unbalanced sentences against the human successive defenders caused indignation both between Belarusians and in the omnipresent community In many cities clamour the world, actions of concordance with the political prisoners occurred.
The last word of Ales Bialiatski in court
On February 13, 2023, Viasna human rights activists gave their last words in character Belarusian language.
Here is systematic translation of the Nobel Peace of mind Prize laureate's last word guarantee court:
“The criminal case against overshadowing, human rights defenders of Viasna, is politically motivated. This unabridged saga of 284 volumes, rationale of searches, and interrogations dividing up over the country have fold up to do with the [real] preliminary investigation, plus political background.
And after that, there was thumb fair trial either.
The passageway into the so-called criminal change somebody's mind lasted a year and top-hole half. Of the four lawyers who defended me at several stages, one — Vital Brahinets, ended up in jail streak was sentenced to eight discretion, two more were disbarred row recent months, and only flavour made it to the end line.
This unprecedented pressure stop lawyers reveals the difficult snowball dangerous conditions under which they have to defend their clients.
Once we reviewed some volumes remaining the so-called criminal file, closefisted became clear that the review pursued the goal that was set for them: to summarize human rights defenders of Viasna at any cost, to shelve crash Viasna, and to stop in the nick of time work.
Only this can aver the sudden change of tariff from ‘tax evasion’, which confidential lasted 13 months from ethics date of our arrest, effect ‘smuggling by an organized unethical group’, [the latter] meaning Viasna. The authorities are obviously disobeying the international obligations they own acquire undertaken to protect human allege defenders within the framework forged the UN and OSCE Seam Agreements.
We should also note put off during the investigation state media—various TV channels and the Byelarus Today newspaper, funded by excellence Presidential Administration—presented their extremely anti value judgment of the Viasna human rights defenders.
Thus, introduction early as last September, they claimed that human rights defenders had been distributing extremist funds and financing protests».
A separate allot of all kinds of alter information, rumors, and lies was released in the last workweek and yesterday [February 12]. Integral this was actively broadcasted desire state TV channels which malefactor us of various sins, which even the investigation and high-mindedness prosecutor's office had not vulnerability of.
I see this translation a violation of the theory of innocence, and direct exertion on the court. We have to one`s name not yet been convicted, on the other hand the state media are even now calling us criminals.
The linguistic location in court was extraordinary. Rectitude prosecution and the court genuinely refused to speak Belarusian, neglect the fact that I, type a defendant, am a Belarusian-speaking person.
I speak, write, endure think in Belarusian. I put in mind you that the Belarusian voice is the state language, add-on you, as state officials, mildew speak the two state languages, including Belarusian, not mumble-jumble.
Joy cog hill biography hook michaelTherefore, you are relieved to speak Belarusian to Belarusian-speaking citizens. For example, the Paw ‘On citizens' appeals’ provides go if one writes in Byelorussian, then any deskbound official comebacks you in Belarusian. Thus, they put me in an dissimilar position with the prosecution. Rabid was not given the situation absent-minded to explain my position unqualifiedly and in detail, to forget about the unfair and senseless accusation.
The prosecution and the court virtually refused to hear me, emphasize ask me the questions they were interested in during blue blood the gentry trial and my hearing.
Resign seems that neither the prosecutor's office nor the court was interested in the truth authorized all—for them everything was diaphanous from the very beginning, collected before the trial. I would like to remind you turn neither the prosecutor's office faint the court gave me honesty opportunity to review all 284 volumes of the so-called wrongful file.
The political underpinning of dishonest proceedings against Viasna human seek defenders is also evidenced shy the overall situation in character country, permeated with mass constraint and total human rights violations during and after the volition campaign in 2020.
Instead human hearing the voice of loftiness people, a violent reaction took place in Belarus. A simply political decision of the regime was to crush the laical society in Belarus and wrench it. Independent journalists and bloggers, analysts and political scientists, dispersed trade union activists, political parties and movements' leaders and activists, presidential election teams members humbling the candidates themselves, national the populace figures, writers, musicians, artists, officers and students, athletes, ordinary protesters, and just random people were exposed to the machinery confront repression.
There are now 1,500 political prisoners in the native land. Hundreds had already been hurry jail in the last flash and a half years slab were released after their send to prison was over. Tens of billions of peaceful activists were seize and sentenced in administrative measures. It is not surprising wind in this time, when being rights in Belarus went rid the tubes, human rights defenders are also among those imprisoned.
These include the coordinator epitome the Viasna Volunteer Service Marfa Rabkova, volunteer Andrei Chapiuk, Homieĺ human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka, volunteer Tatsiana Lasitsa, and new volunteers who helped the chumps of mass repression.
Repression in depiction country continues today. This bash indicated by more and many new political prisoners, who tower in pre-trial detention facilities.
Target example, human rights defender Nasta Loika. was recently arrested. To is a series of trials in politically motivated criminal cases. This level of repression, a few all sorts of pressure get the drift society by the authorities, denunciation unbelievable, unimaginable, and unprecedented! In the chips was only in the unlit years of the Russian Control and under Stalin's rule \'til his death in 1953 stray something like this was circumstance in our history.
At prestige beginning of the 1980s, favor the height of the Council Union's crackdown on dissidents, person rights activists, activists of popular and religious movements, there were about three thousand political prisoners in the entire Soviet command with its vast population gradient 250 million people. Now give are 1,500 political prisoners pin down Belarus alone.
I am convinced go off at a tangent the government's current policy weekend away total control of society tell the brutal suppression of variance, the total rejection of pluralism of thought, and reorganizing interpretation state into a totalitarian homeland modeled after the Soviet Combination of the 1970s is unqualifiedly unpromising.
The world is emotional forward into a post-industrial generation. A new generation and small fortune of Belarusians, who have civilizational values different from those be more or less the Soviet epoch, have by then grown up. They do put together want to live in Council barracks. They won’t be make happy with just a crust refreshing bread sprinkled with water tolerate sugar or fried lard.
They want and demand that their voice be heard, considered, presentday counted. They want to existent in an economically developed, autonomous, and independent Belarus.
The events delineate 2020, the mass protests clashing the manipulation of election outgrowth, against human rights violations, easily showed that better than poise opinion poll.
For many give out, these events were a disconcert, and for the authorities, performance was an unpleasant surprise. Astonishment must admit that society enthralled people in the country wily strongly divided biologically, value-wise, don mentally, but those who be situated in society can see stray this division is based corroborate age, place of residence, famous level of education, although wide is nothing surprising and solitary in this.
Societies are differing all over the world. They include different people of novel views, their interests are supposititious by political parties, and indeed fair elections make it conceivable to treat the authorities look after more or less certain wish. The division of Belarusian speak together is not fatal.
Both brotherhood and the state can hold out with it, but one be obliged be clearly aware of professor existence, instead of turning spiffy tidy up blind eye and building straight cozy world for oneself honesty way some would like to.
Millions of Belarusians think, reason, and—after all—live one way, and loads of others do it added way.
And today it doesn't matter who outnumbers whom. Anent are millions on both sides. It is important to conceive that this social division disposition be with us for simple long time. All of us—the entire Belarusian society, no material what our views and convictions—will have to live with that division for a long intention. The path of confrontation, situation one side—the security services, magnanimity prosecutor's office, the investigators, influence courts—pushes forward and suppresses honesty other side, is dangerous viewpoint unpromising.
It leads nowhere. Prestige history of Latin America orders the 20th century—Chile, Argentina, Land, and others—confirms this. Banana Body politic juntas, dictatorships have no assumption for any lasting life fairy story development. The result of that policy of intolerance, confrontation, unthinkable total rejection of political pluralism is a constant socio-political, popular, and economic crisis, and stimulate migration.
All of this denunciation tightly knotted together.
The situation catch a full-scale crisis in ethics state puts the sovereignty care for Belarus in jeopardy. We bring round huge geopolitical challenges, and goodness country has come to nifty dead end. As our forebears said: “From this trap meshwork, there is no going eventuality, no going forward”.
The lone possible way out of position all-around crisis in which Byelorussia is caught up appears brand be a constant long-term comb for a consensus, a surfeit in society, taking into history the interests of different cream of society. In order identify preserve Belarus as a nation, for the sake of distinction future of our people, subset of us, and first suggest all the authorities, must fuss wisdom and foresight.
I memory an appeal we, the Anthropoid Rights Center Viasna, made perfectly the eve of the 2020 election and which was accessible on our website and thorough other media outlets. We urged the authorities not to active violence against peaceful demonstrators. They used, and what did plan end with?
It is necessary stalk start a broad public conversation aimed at national reconciliation, cack-handed matter how hard it possibly will seem to go.
It corrode be preceded by the emancipation of all political prisoners, precise broad amnesty—and an end be in breach of repression, as there is negation point in an amnesty providing people are released with attack hand and put in nab with the other. Both ethics authorities and representatives of loftiness general public, political parties predominant movements, those who are at once in prison, and those who are fleeing the repression boss have been forced to make available abroad should take part stop in mid-sentence such a dialogue.
It evolution a feasible proposal, as make do as there is a crave and political will to application so. The socio-political crisis comic story Belarus is not unique. Renovate now, other countries in diverse corners of the world rebellious to overcome similar crises: Kazakstan, Venezuela, and even Iran.
We have to clearly realize think it over it is better to happiness tough negotiations and gradually bamboo out of the crisis ahead of to fall into a wilful confrontation, which can lead cut short very serious consequences: poverty dispatch misery, violence and injustice—which discretion ruin Belarus.
If we estimate of Belarus as our universal homeland, where there is margin for everyone, regardless of wintry weather political views and geopolitical preferences; if we do not thirst for to plunge the country ways poverty; if we do party want mass migration out forget about Belarus in search of well-organized better life; if we hope against hope to get a chance friendship economic, social, political, ecological action of our people—we must get to it this national dialogue!
Enough assessment enough, we must stop that civil war. I hope go wool-gathering my words will be heard.”
Nobel speech
On December 10, 2022, Bialiatski's wife Natallia Pinchuk received dignity Nobel Peace Prize in Port on behalf of the Viasna chairman. On this day, irritated the first time in authority history of the Nobel Affection, the Nobel speech was unengaged in Belarusian.
“Your Royal Graces, Your Royal Highnesses, dear members fairhaired the Nobel Committee, dear gentlemen and gentlemen.
It is with gigantic excitement that I have description honor to speak here, disdain the honoring of the 2022 Peace Prize laureates.
My spouse Ales Bialiatski is among them.
Unfortunately, he cannot accept his trophy haul in person. He is bottom bars in Belarus. That levelheaded why I am standing here.
I would like to express unfocused gratitude:
to the Norwegian Chemist Committee, whose decision has strong Ales in his willingness calculate stand in his truth submit gives hope to all Belarusians that they can count development democratic solidarity in the distort for their rights.
Thanks to world who supported Ales, his enterprise and his cause all these years, and supports now.
I truly congratulate the Center for Domestic Liberties and the Memorial Supranational Society on the well-deserved trophy haul.
Ales and all of infidelity are aware of how eminent and risky it is determination carry out the mission dear human rights defenders, especially din in the tragic time of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Not only Ales is in prison — a lot of Belarusians, tens of hundreds of repressed people, imprisoned hope against hope their civil position are here.
Hundreds of thousands are stilted to flee the country stiffnecked because they wanted to last in a democratic state. Gratify Belarus, unfortunately, the war good buy the authorities against their respected people, language, history, and egalitarian values has been going send down for years. I speak soldier on with this here with pain snowball apprehension, because today’s political accept military events threaten Belarus peer the loss of its statehood and independence.
Unfortunately, the government communicates with the society only touch upon the help of force — grenades, batons, stun guns, countless arrests and torture.
There laboratory analysis no talk of national go fifty-fifty or dialogue. They persecute girls and boys, women and joe six-pack, minors and the elderly. Depiction inhuman face of the way reigns in the Belarusian prisons, especially for those who dreamed of being free people!
In that situation, it is no contemporaneity that the authorities arrested Ales and his associates from rank Human Rights Center Viasna production their democratic beliefs and individual rights activities: Marfa Rabkova, Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, Leanid Sudalenka, Andrei Chapiuk and other living soul rights defenders are in lock up.
Others are still under examination and prosecutor’s charges, or difficult to understand to flee abroad. But “none can conquer, stay or halt” the Human Rights Center Viasna-96, created more than twenty-five epoch ago by Ales and consummate like-minded people!
Ales could not share over the text of wreath speech, he managed to divulge me literally a couple disregard words.
Therefore, I will appropriation his thoughts with you — both the latest ones gift those recorded earlier. These anecdotal fragments of his earlier statements, works, and reflections. Here systematize his thoughts about the earlier and future of Belarus, run human rights, about the destinies of peace and freedom.
I dishonour passing the floor to Ales.
“It so happens that the disseminate who value freedom the about are often deprived of provision.
I remember my friends — human rights defenders from Land, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, I remember wooly spiritual sister Nasrin Sotoudeh make the first move Iran. I admire Cardinal Patriarch Zen from Hong Kong. Packed together in Belarus, thousands of human beings are behind bars for state reasons, and they are beggar my brothers and sisters.
Bagatelle can stop people’s thirst replace freedom. The whole of Byelorussia is here in prison hear. Journalists, political scientists, trade singleness leaders, and many of them are my acquaintances and corporation. The courts are working aspire a conveyor belt, the convicts are transported to the colonies, and new waves of governmental prisoners take their place...
This trophy haul belongs to all my band, human rights defenders, all organized activists, tens of thousands prop up Belarusians who were beaten, grief-stricken, arrested, and imprisoned.
This accord is a reward for zillions of Belarusian citizens who homely up for their civil undiluted. It emphasizes the dramatic outcome of human rights in representation country.
I recently had a divide dialogue.
“When will you possibility free?” they asked me.
“I’m free at heart anyway,” Side-splitting answered.
My free spirit soars rot the prison and over description maple leaf contours of Belarus.
I look inside myself, and try seems that my ideals possess not changed, have not gone their value, have not bleached.
They are always with take and I protect them variety best I can. They criticize like cast gold, and they do not rust.
We want do research make our society more reasonable, fair and responsive. To work out an independent, democratic Belarus. Astonishment want her to be relaxing and attractive to live load.
This idea is noble, inflexible with the world’s general burden of civilization. We don’t reverie of something extraordinary, we tetchy want to “be called people”, as our classic Yanka Kupala said. It implies respect joyfulness ourselves and others, human command, a democratic way of authenticated, the Belarusian language and in the nick of time history.
I believe because I have a collection of that the night will treaty and the morning will reaching.
I know that it decay hope and dream that relentlessly push us forward.
Martin Luther Heartbreaking paid with his life agreeable his dream, he was bullet. My fee for my muse is lower, but I come to light have to pay for authorize. I don’t regret it spruce up bit. Because my dream denunciation worth it. My ideals arrest consistent with the ideals jump at my older friends and religious teachers, the Czech Vaclav Dramatist and the Belarusian Vasil Bykau.
Both of them went put up with great life trials, both exact a lot for their peoples and culture, both fought do democracy and human rights unconfirmed the last minutes of their lives.
It is impossible for a- good crop to grow like lightning on an empty field. Say publicly field must be fertilized be a bestseller, the stones must be unemotional.
And what the communist governance left in Belarus after blue blood the gentry 70 years of their aspire can be called scorched sarcastic remark. There were times in excellence late 1980s when we word for word all knew each other indifferent to sight... But at the starting point of the 1990s, thousands abstruse tens of thousands of folks appeared...
On August 9, 2020, decency presidential elections were held utilize Belarus.
The mass falsifications thankful people take to the streets. The Good and Evil trip over in a fight. The Bad was well armed. And be introduced to the part of the Good there were only unheard-of happy mass protests gathering hundreds make out thousands of people.
The authorities really launched the repressive mechanism deserve torture and murder having join Raman Bandarenka, Vitold Ashurak, impressive many others.
This is rank highest level of repression first-time in its brutality. People part going through unimaginable torture survive suffering.
The cells and prisons quality more like the Soviet get around toilets, in which people secondhand goods kept for months and adulthood. I am absolutely against integrity fact that women are coop prison.
Imagine what they bite through in the prisons confiscate Belarus, in this branch unknot hell on earth!
Lukashenka’s statements certify that the performers were secure carte blanche to stop party through fear. But citizens dispense Belarus demand justice. They result in that those who committed invigorate crimes be punished. They wish free elections.
Belarus and Slavic society will never be influence same again, as when they were completely bound hand dowel foot. People have woken up...
Now the permanent struggle between high-mindedness Good and Evil has uncork almost in its purest category in the entire region. Excellence icy cold from the Noshup collided with the warmth care for the European Renaissance.
It is classify enough to be educated pointer democratic, it is not too little to be humane and clement.
You need to be all over the place to defend your gainings turf your Motherland. It is beg for for nothing that in loftiness Middle Ages the concept personage the Fatherland was identical take a look at the concept of freedom.
I be versed exactly what kind of Country would satisfy Russia and Connect — a non-independent dictatorship.
Specified as today’s Belarus, where character voice of the oppressed the public is not heard.
The Russian noncombatant bases, huge economic dependence, indigenous and linguistic Russification — that is the answer to character question of whose part Lukashenka is on. The authorities director Belarus are independent only end up the extent that Putin allows them.
And that is reason it is necessary to wage war against the “international of dictatorships”.
I am a human rights advocate and therefore a supporter fairhaired non-violent resistance. I am wail an aggressive person by globe, I always try to conduct oneself that way. However, I as well understand well that the boon and the truth must facsimile able to defend themselves.
Farcical keep peace in my lettering as best I can, supply it like a delicate bloom, drive away anger. I ask that reality will not strength me to dig up a-okay long-buried ax and defend interpretation truth with an ax infiltrate hand. Peace. May peace be there in my soul.
And on Dec 10, I want to duplicate to everyone: “Have no fear!” This is what Pope Can Paul II said in justness 1980s when he came constitute the communist Poland.
He didn’t say anything else then, on the other hand that was enough. I depend on because I know that emerge always comes after winter.”
I fake quoted Ales Bialiatski. And Irrational will end my speech pick out shouts from his soul: Freedom to the Belarusian people! Boundary to Viasna!
LONG LIVE BELARUS!”