PACE adopts a declaration on Ales Bialiatski

Doc. 12760

6 October 2011

In support of Ales Bialiatski, Belarus Human Rights Defender

Written Declaration No 497

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

Following the wave of repression in the aftermath of the presidential elections, the situation of human rights and civil and political liberties has deteriorated dramatically in Belarus. Trumped up criminal charges, searches, interrogations and smear campaigns have been launched against political activists and human rights defenders.

Ales Bialiatski, leader of the Human Rights Centre Viasna, was arrested on 4 August 2011 and may face up to seven years imprisonment purportedly for income tax evasion. The severe restrictions on freedom of association in Belarus and the impossibility for independent organisations to register and to receive funds from abroad seriously impeded the work of Viasna and jeopardised its efforts to assist victims of political repression.

Ales Bialiatski is a victim of political harassment and is clearly being prosecuted for his civic activities. The so-called “tax evasion” charges are a pretext for the government to eliminate a courageous opponent of the Lukashenko regime.

demanding the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.

Signed: ¹

HERKEL Andres, Estonia, EPP/CD

AGRAMUNT FONT DE MORA Pedro, Spain, EPP/CD

ALIGRUDIĆ Miloš, Serbia, EPP/CD

BACQUELAINE Daniel, Belgium, ALDE

BADEA Viorel Riceard, Romania, EPP/CD

BADRÉ Denis, France, ALDE

BECK Marieluise, Germany, ALDE

BRASSEUR Anne, Luxembourg, ALDE

CANEL Sylvia, Germany, ALDE

CEDERBRATT Mikael, Sweden, EPP/CD

CIRCENE Ingrida, Latvia, EPP/CD

CLUNE Deirdre, Ireland, EPP/CD

DİŞLİ Şaban, Turkey, EPP/CD

DORIĆ Miljenko, Croatia, ALDE

FLANAGAN Terence, Ireland, EPP/CD

FOŘT Stanislav, Slovak Republic, ALDE

FRITZ Erich Georg, Germany, EPP/CD

FRUNDA György, Romania, EPP/CD

GARDETTO Jean-Charles, Monaco, EPP/CD

GHILETCHI Valeriu, Moldova, EPP/CD

GRAHAM Sylvi, Norway, EPP/CD

HANSON Margus, Estonia, ALDE

HOLOVATY Serhiy, Ukraine, ALDE

HÜBINGER Anette, Germany, EPP/CD

JOHANSSON Mats, Sweden, EPP/CD

KALMÁR Ferenc, Hungary, EPP/CD

KANDELAKI Guiorgui, Georgia, EPP/CD

KOVÁCS Elvira, Serbia, EPP/CD

KUBATA Václav, Czech Republic, EPP/CD

KUBOVIČ Pavol, Slovak Republic, EPP/CD

LUNDGREN Kerstin, Sweden, ALDE

MAISSEN Theo, Switzerland, EPP/CD

MANZONE-SAQUET Nicole, Monaco, NR

MARQUET Bernard, Monaco, ALDE

MARTY Dick, Switzerland, ALDE

MATUŠIĆ Frano, Croatia, EPP/CD

MAYER Edgar, Austria, EPP/CD

MIGNON Jean-Claude, France, EPP/CD

MUNTEANU Valeriu, Moldova, ALDE

NAGHDALYAN Hermine, Armenia, ALDE

NEGELE Gebhard, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

PALIHOVICI Liliana, Moldova, EPP/CD

PELKONEN Jaana, Finland, EPP/CD

POSTANJYAN Zaruhi, Armenia, EPP/CD

POURBAIX-LUNDIN Marietta de, Sweden, EPP/CD

POURGOURIDES Christos, Cyprus, EPP/CD

RACHOŃ Janusz, Poland, EPP/CD

REPS Mailis, Estonia, ALDE

RUMMO Paul-Eerik, Estonia, ALDE

SAAR Indrek, Estonia, SOC

SASI Kimmo, Finland, EPP/CD

SCHÄDLER Leander, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

SCHOU Ingjerd, Norway, EPP/CD

SCHUSTER Marina, Germany, ALDE

SOBOLEV Serhiy, Ukraine, EPP/CD

STAVROSITU Maria, Romania, EPP/CD

TOSHEV Latchezar, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

VAREIKIS Egidijus, Lithuania, EPP/CD

VIROLAINEN Anne-Mari, Finland, EPP/CD

VOLONTÈ Luca, Italy, EPP/CD

WOHLWEND Renate, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

ZELLER Karl, Italy, EPP/CD

ZINGERIS Emanuelis, Lithuania, EPP/CD

__________________

Total = 63

As members of the Parliamentary Assembly attached to the fundamental principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights, we will monitor the proceedings against Ales Bialiatski and other opponents of the regime with special interest, while at the same time

EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      SOC: Socialist Group

      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group