Mayor of Paris: Ales Bialiatski’s release is a new step on the path to freedom of expression and democracy in the world

Press release of Ms. Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, on the release of Ales Bialiatski

I found out with great joy about the release of Ales Bialiatski, a honorary citizen of Paris, Chairman of the HRC “Viasna” and Vice-President of FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights).

A known defender of human rights and freedoms, Ales Bialiatski was sentencedon November 24, 2011 as a result ofan unfair trial to four and a half years in prison. His release, after three years in prison,is a new step on the path to freedom of expression and democracy in the world.

I would once again like to express solidarity of the city of Paris with all the women and men who are fighting every day to protect fundamental rights. To demonstrate our solidarity with their struggle, in the coming days we will update the portrait of Ales Bialiatski installed in front of the Mayor’s office of the 11tharrondissement of Paris (Léon Blum Square), adding to it a beautiful word “FREEDOM”!