#FreeViasna: Latest news about jailed Viasna human rights defenders

On September 17, #FreeViasna campaign of solidarity with the imprisoned Viasna members was launched. Here’s the latest news about them.

Human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka released from jail

Right after his release from jail, Leanid Sudalenka, was interviewed by Narodnaya Volya. Photo: social media

Human rights defender and Viasna member, Leanid Sudalenka, was released from Viciebsk penal colony No. 3 on July 21, having completed his sentence. Sudalenka was convicted on November 3, 2021, and was sentenced to three years imprisonment under parts 1 and 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (“organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, and training and preparation of individuals to participate in such actions, as well as their financing or other material provision of such actions). Sudalenka has been held behind bars for two and a half years. 

Shortly after his release from prison, Leanid Sudalenka gave an interview to Narodnaya Volya media. Viasna published its abridged translation.

Leanid Sudalenka: “My mother thought I was working abroad for 3 years”

Shortly after his release from prison, Viasna human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka gave an interview to Narodnaya Volya media. Viasna publishes its abridged translation.

July 14 marked two years since the arrest of Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic and Uladzimir Labkovich

A solidarity picket was held in Vilnius for this occasion.

Fellow human rights defenders held Solidarity picket in Vilnius on July 14, 2023.

More photos can be found on our Belarusian website.

On the same day, a solidarity evening took place in Vilnius with political prisoners and Viasna leaders Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Uladzimir Labkovich.

Pavel Sapelka, a human rights lawyer with Viasna, recalled how the persecution of the three Viasna members unfolded:

“After July 14, 2021, there were long, torturous months when the investigation was ongoing. On the one hand, we understood the situation perfectly well, that it is likely to end badly, but on the other hand, there were hopes that something would happen — and our colleagues could soon join us.”

Pinchuk: “The painful ordeal fell not only on the human rights defenders, but also on the whole Belarusian people”

On this day two years ago, our colleagues and leaders, Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Uladzimir Labkovich were arrested. Four months ago, they received lengthy jail terms, up to 10 years, for their human rights activities at Viasna. The three human rights defenders have served serving their terms in the Mahilioŭ district. On the anniversary of the Viasna members' arrest, we spoke with Ales Bialiatski's wife, Natallia Pinchuk, about the latest news from the colony about Bialiatski, the death of his close friend Ales Pushkin, and the continuation of her husband's work.

Family receives first call from Valiantsin Stefanovic in two years

Valiantsin Stefanovic during the trial.

His wife, Alina Stefanovic, reported this on Facebook.

“Valik got through! The first time in two years. It feels like two weeks have passed,” she wrote.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders presented a report on violations during the trial of Viasna members

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) presented a report in Paris on July 12 on violations during the trial of Ales Bialiatski, the founder of Viasna and laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, his deputy and vice-president of the FIDH Valiantsin Stefanovic, lawyer and coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign Uladzimir Labkovich, and Viasna human rights defender Zmitser Salauyou.

The head of the FIDH's Eastern Europe and Central Asia program, Ilya Nuzov, said:

“The international and Belarusian observers present in the courtroom were the first witnesses to the parody of justice that took place during this trial. The sight of the defendants handcuffed and locked up in a metal cage, the refusal to hold the proceedings in Belarusian, the unfounded claims and the subordination of witnesses are just a few examples of the lows to which the authoritarian Belarusian regime is willing to stoop.”

The Observatory: Injustice and cruelty of the judiciary in the Viasna case

In a report published on July 12, the Observatory, a joint programme of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), exposes the parody of justice that took place during the recent trial of four Viasna members. The elements of the report come, among others, from two covert judicial observation missions conducted by the Observatory in early 2023. The report presents a comprehensive investigation into the cruelty of the Belarusian judiciary towards Viasna’s human rights defenders.

Viasna among five winners of UN Human Rights Prize in 2023

On July 20, the President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi announced the winners of the prestigious United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for 2023.  This year it was awarded to five winners, including Human Rights Center Viasna.

Viasna among five winners of UN Human Rights Prize in 2023

The President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi on Thursday announced the winners of the prestigious United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for 2023. This year’s winners were the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, based in Belarus, Julienne Lusenge from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Amman Center for Human Rights Studies from Jordan, Julio Pereyra from Uruguay and the Global Coalition of civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, social movements and local communities.

Nobel Peace Prize laureates to send a powerful message to the US government

From July 25 to 28, 2023, a delegation of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureates from Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia will hold meetings with senior US government officials, delivering a message of unwavering support for Ukraine. Kanstantsin Staradubets of Viasna Human Rights Center will represent the imprisoned laureate Ales Bialiatski of Belarus and will engage with representatives from the State Department, the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the US Committee on Foreign Relations and the White House, as well as with various legal experts and influential think tanks.

Ukraine deserves to win: Nobel Peace Prize laureates to send a powerful message to the US government

From July 25 to 28, 2023, a delegation of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureates from Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia will hold meetings with senior US government officials, delivering a message of unwavering support for Ukraine. The visit, initiated and supported by eQualitie will take place in Washington DC in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Recently, there has been no news about the coordinator of the Viasna volunteer service Marfa Rabkova and volunteer Andrei Chapiuk.

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For more news about Viasna members, visit freeviasna.org.