European Parliament calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Belorussian human rights defender Ales Bialatski

On 15 September members of the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which they express deep concern at the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders in Belarus. They strongly condemn the recent arrest of and allegations against Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human Rights Cenetr Viasna, and the Belarusian authorities’ failure to respect the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly and expression.

Given the "unprecedented crackdown on civil society in Belarus following the presidential elections in December 2010", MEPs believe that the criminal case against Ales Bialiatski is politically motivated and intended to obstruct his legitimate work as a human rights defender. They call for Ales Bialiatski to be "immediately and unconditionally released from custody and for the investigation and all the charges against him to be dropped".

Parliament also calls on the Council, the Commission and foreign policy High Representative Catherine Ashton to step up their pressure on the Belarusian authorities, and to further expand the visa ban and asset freeze list to include those involved in the arrest and prosecution of Ales Bialiatski.