U.S. Embassy in Belarus condemns the detention of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski
https://spring96.org/en/news/45005
2011
2011-08-08T17:21:29+0300
2011-08-08T17:21:29+0300
1970-01-01T03:00:00+0300
en
https://spring96.org/files/images/sources/skenlan.jpg
The Human Rights Center “Viasna”
The Human Rights Center “Viasna”
The Human Rights Center “Viasna”
The Human Rights Center “Viasna”
Michael Scanlan, Chargé d\'Affaires ad interim of the United States in Belarus
August 5, 2011
The August 4 detention of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski is extremely troubling and
represents another, unfortunate sign of Belarus’ self-isolation and further
deviation from European standards and principles. In democratic
societies, independent NGOs like Viasna –
who the government continues to refuse to register – play a crucial role in the
all important system of checks and balances. Recognizing this, societies pass
laws creating conditions for the “third sector” to function and flourish. They
do not try to marginalize civil society by denying registration and harassing
and detaining NGO members.
