BAJ: as long as people in Belarus are held criminally liable for their opinions, nobody can feel free!
The Board of BAJ made a statement on the occasion of termination of several criminal cases regarding several BAJ members.
The Statement
The public association “Belarusian Association of Journalists” congratulates its members Iryna Khlaip, Siarhei Vazniak and Aliaksandr Fiaduta whose criminal sentences have terminated.
Meanwhile, BAJ is concerned over the fate of our colleagues Ales Bialiatski, Pavel Seviarynets, who are now serving criminal sentences in custody, and Andrei Poczobut, who is serving a suspended sentence.
We join the demands of the Belarusian and the international civil society to stop criminal prosecution regarding our colleagues and to free all the citizens of Belarus recognized as political prisoners.
As long as people in Belarus are held liable under the Criminal Code for having their views and opinions, nobody can feel free in the country.
Adopted on July 23, 2013 by the Board of BAJ
