Ales Bialiatski visits Brussels and Strasbourg
July 1 Ales Bialiatski, head of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), visited Brussels. He met with representatives of the European Union to thank them for their tireless efforts on his release and call for the struggle for the liberation of all political prisoners in Belarus and systemic changes in the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The human rights activist also urged to support the country's civil society in the struggle for democracy and human rights.
European diplomats and journalists asked the head of “Viasna” about the the conditions of his detention and circumstances of his recent release.
Ales Bialiatski, FIDH CEO Antoine Bernard and Head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia Department Sasha Kulaeva met with EU Special Representative for Human Rights Stavros Lambrynidis, representatives of the European Commission and several EU ambassadors on foreign affairs.
July 2, Ales Bialiatski's meets with the newly elected President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, as well as with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule lord, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Anne Brasseur and the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.
At the end of his trip Ales Bialiatski will meet with the mayor of Paris, who presented Ales Bialiatski the rank of honorary citizen of Paris during his imprisonment.