Latest news about jailed Viasna human rights defenders
We collected news on Viasna team members who are behind bars.
It has been a year since the three human rights defenders of Viasna were convicted
On March 3, it was one year since Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, FIDH Vice President Valiantsin Stefanovich, and Viasna lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich were sentenced to ten, nine, and seven years of imprisonment, respectively, on trumped-up charges.
- The trial of the Viasna case, March 3, 2023
36 human rights organizations around the world demanded the release of imprisoned Viasna members
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH/OMCT) and the signatory organizations demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and Uladzimir Labkovich and call on the international community to use all available diplomatic, political and other means at its disposal means to urge the Belarusian authorities to respect the rule of law and to free all those convicted under politically motivated charges. This is expressed in a special statement published on the FIDH website.
36 human rights organizations around the world demanded the release of imprisoned Viasna members
International colleagues speak about the anniversary of the verdict in Viasna case
"One year after the unjust verdict and over 2,5 years since the arbitrary detention of Ales, Valiantsin and Uladzimir, I am dismayed that our colleagues still remain imprisoned. We are appalled by what we know about the harsh conditions in Belarusian prisons and the treatment of political prisoners in these facilities. Throughout their imprisonment, we have lost the public voices not only of our courageous, kind and brilliant colleagues, but also important voices within FIDH. Valiantsin Stefanovic is one of our two FIDH Vice Presidents for the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region. When he was re-elected Vice President at our centenary Congress in 2022, pictures of Valiantsin, Ales and Uladzimir, as well as of Marfa Rabkova and Andrey Chapiuk, were placed on empty chairs on the first row. Today, we reiterate our solidarity and support for Ales, Valiantsin and Uladzimir, as well as for their families, friends and colleagues, who continue their important work of documenting human rights violations in Belarus. We also reiterate our call to the Belarusian authorities: Free Viasna!", said Alice Mogwe, President of FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights)
"Free Viasna!" International colleagues speak about the anniversary of the verdict in Viasna case
Human rights activist and former political prisoner Leanid Sudalenka shared how he missed Ales Bialiatski and what he dreamed of
My only dream and desire is to turn over the sad page of Belarusian life of recent years as soon as possible, so that our fellow Viasna activists, like all political prisoners, return to us, to their families, where their loved ones, parents, husbands and wives, children, grandparents are waiting for them.
And also to return home, to Belarus, free from political repression, to our native home as soon as possible! To meet with Ales and return to conversations about human rights in our native country together! After all, this work will be enough for us human rights defenders for many years!", said human rights activist and former political prisoner Leanid Sudalenka.
A Japanese translation of Ales Bialiatski's Nobel Speech has been released
Its author is Shiori Kiyosawa, a lecturer at one of the best private universities in Japan.
"My Japanese translation of the Nobel Lecture by Ales Bialiatski, which was read by his wife Natallia Pinchuk in December 2022, has been published.
I am sincerely grateful to the Nobel Foundation for permission to publish the translation of the lecture. The translation was included in the latest issue of the scientific journal Eurasian Studies.
I am also sincerely grateful to the editor-in-chief of the magazine, who suggested publishing a photo of graffiti depicting Mr. Bialiatski in Vilnius on the cover of the magazine," she wrote.
On July 14, 2021, they and other Viasna activists were searched. The human rights defenders were accused of "smuggling" and "financing group actions that grossly violate public order."
Political prisoners and human rights defenders were added to the "list of extremists".
Support them with letters and postcards of solidarity:Penal colony No. 9, 213410, Horki, vul. Dabraliubava, 16, Penal colony No. 15, 213105, Mahiliou, Veina, Slauharadskaja shasha 183, to Penal colony No. 17, 213004, Shklou, vul. 1-ja Zavodskaja 8, to |
Marfa Rabkova has been imprisoned for more than 3 years and 5 months
Coordinator of Viasna’s volunteer network was detained on September 17, 2020. Later, the human rights defender was accused under a number of articles of the Criminal Code for the events of 2016–2020 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Following the appeal, Marfa's sentence was reduced by three months. The verdict came into force and Rabkova was transferred to the Homieĺ colony.
Letters from political prisoner Andrei Chapiuk have not reached relatives since mid-December
Recall that in September 2022, the political prisoner and Viasna volunteer was sentenced to 6 years in a penal colony. Chapiuk was charged under Part 1 of Article 13, Part 2 of Article 293 (preparation for participation in mass riots), Part 2 of Article 285 (participation in a criminal organization), Part 1 of Article 130 (inciting other social hatred), Article 341 (desecration of buildings and damage to property; for graffiti directed against the European Games in 2019).
Later, the Supreme Court reduced his sentence by three months, i. e. to 5 years and 9 months of imprisonment. Last March, Chapiuk was transferred to the Ivacevičy colony.
Send letters or postcards of solidarity to Marfa and Andrei:Penal colony No. 4. 246035, Homiel, vul. Antoshkina, 3 Penal colony No. 22. 225295, Brest region, Ivatsevichy, Damanava, PO box 20, |
How else to support Viasna team?
1. Letters of solidarity are the strongest support from outside. Sign postcards, write letters, and send words of support to our colleagues. You can send your letters via regular mail, as well as through electronic services:
We also suggest sending telegrams to political prisoners. You can do this at the post office or by phone number 166 (only from the landline) and dictate the text. Do not forget to leave your name in the text of the telegram.
2. An equally significant support is the dissemination of information. We urge you to tell your relatives, friends, colleagues, and directly on social media about the Viasna team and other political prisoners. Let’s show our solidarity and support political prisoners in Belarus! Sure to use the hashtag #FreeViasna.
3. Sign the petition for the release of the Viasna team members and all political prisoners of Belarus!
4. Support Viasna on Patreon or with a one-time donation.
More news about Viasna team on the website freeviasna.org
