Prisoners are put into penal wards for contacts with Bialiatski
This information was received by the informational
and educational establishment “Platform” from a former prisoner in Vitsebsk.
The prisoner, who was released from the Babruisk colony, stated that the prison
administration punished prisoners for talks with Bialiatski and expression of
sympathy for him. For instance, prisoners could be transferred to other
brigades or deprived of relaxation of regime restrictions. The prison administration
explains its action by stating that in the brigade there is Bialiatski who
doesn't want to repent.
The head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to
4.5 years of imprisonment in November 2011. He was found guilty in an especially
large-scale tax evasion. The human rights defender pleaded innocent and stated
that he spent the money which was transferred to his accounts solely on human
rights activities.
The reason for the criminal persecution of Bialiatski was the bank information
passed to the Belarusian authorities by Lithuania
and Poland.
EU countries, the US
and international human rights defenders regard Bialiatski as a prisoners of
conscience and demand his immediate and unconditional release.
