Premiere of documentary about Ales Bialiatski at "BelSat" TV channel

You can see the "Viasna" documentary at 6.10 p.m. on 6 January, at the satellite TV channel "BelSat".

The film tells the story of the work and life of the the chairman of the HRC "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski, and about the people whom the organization assisted in defending their rights.

Volha Shved, director: "The history of modern Belarus is a history of repression. Every momentous event – the election, the increase in prices, changes in legislation - ends with repression. The organization of assistance to the repressed is a direct confrontation with the repressive authorities. Thus, Ales Bialiatski became a personal enemy of Aliaksandr Lukasehnka in some respect. Because one stops being afraid of saying what you think, or coming out to protest actions when there's somebody who will help in case of problems."

The organization which rendered aid to the repressed, "Viasna-96", was created in 1996, two years after Lukashenka came to power.

The film shows the history of the human rights center amid the recent history of Belarus. The central figure of the documentary is Ales Bialiatski, he is present on archival photographs and newsreels. However, there are no personal statements by Ales (except for his last plea at court). Nevertheless, he speaks to us through his wife, who explains why Ales chose the Belarusian way of life, why he engaged in the protection of people from the post-communist government, how he gradually got used to the idea that he can become a victim of repression as well, and how he lived with the knowledge of the inevitability of it. What price, apart from freedom, he had to pay everyday, and what it means to be with such a man?

"When we read that "Viasna" helps the repressed, there are no emotions behind it. It is difficult to understand from such lines the feelings of someone who is dismissed from the work which is his calling and what it means to be left without means of subsistence just because you think in a way which is not allowed. How can one keep living with the thought that soon they will knock on the door and take the husband away to prison? What does it mean to be waiting for the husband to come from work, without knowing whether he would come, and still support him? I tried to show persons in the film", the channel's website quotes the film director.

The first run of the documentary "Viasna" will take place at 6.10 p.m. on 6 January. Later on, it can be also viewed at the "BelSat" website.