25.11.2011 Human Rights Watch: Conviction of Rights Defender a Blow for Rule of Law

The conviction of the Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski on charges of tax evasion on November 24, 2011, and his prison sentence of 4 years and 6 months with confiscation of all assets were unjustified and politically motivated, Human Rights Watch said today.

25.11.2011 French Foreign Ministry: Official Paris shocked by verdict to Byalyatski

Official Paris shocked by the verdict of the court in the case of Ales Byalyatski, a Belarusian human rights activist, and calls upon his release again, stated the official representative of the Foreign Ministry of France, Bernard Valereau.

25.11.2011 Human RIghts House Network: Call for immediate release and rehabilitation of Ales Bialiatski

64 human rights organizations, members and partners of the Human Rights House Network, resolutely condemn the court verdict to sentence Ales Bialiatski to 4,5 years imprisonment with confiscation of his property.

25.11.2011 Libereco launches a photo-petition for Ales Bialiatski

The Human Rights Organisation Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights condemns the jail sentence of 4.5 years that was imposed on the Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski on November 24th 2011. Together with Belarusian and international human rights organisations Libereco demands the immediate and unconditional release of Ales Bialiatski, who has been detained and sentenced for political reasons only.

24.11.2011 Belarusian activist conviction “politically motivated”

The Belarusian authorities must immediately release a prominent human rights activist convicted today on politically motivated financial charges, Amnesty International said today. Ales Bialiatski, head of the Human Rights Centre Viasna (Spring), was sentenced by a court in Minsk to four and a half years for “concealment of income on a large scale”.

24.11.2011 EP President condemns sentencing of Byalyatski

Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament, condemns the sentencing of human rights activist Ales Byalyatski and calls on the Belarusian authorities to release him.

24.11.2011 OSCE head calls on Minsk to release Byalyatski immediately

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis has expressed his deep concern about the sentence to human rights activist Ales Byalyatski and urged to release him immediately.

24.11.2011 The jewel of the Belarusian human rights work has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Press release from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

Ales Bialiatski, the head of the well-known human rights organization Viasna in Belarus this morning sentenced to four and a half years in prison and confiscation of property for tax evasion.

24.11.2011 Civil Rights Defenders: The Belarusian civil society received a severe blow today

The Belarusian civil society received a severe blow today. Ales Bialiatski, Chariman of the human rights organisation Viasna, was sentenced for tax evasion to four and a half years in prison and confiscation of property.

24.11.2011 Outrage and indignation: FIDH Vice-President, Ales Bialiatski, sentenced to 4 and a half years imprisonment under strict regime

Today, Ales Bialiatski, FIDH Vice-President and President of the Belarusian Human Rights Center “Viasna” (Viasna), was sentenced to 4 and a half years strict regime detention, the payment of a fine, as well as the confiscation of his property, including Viasna’s offices and property registered with members of his family. FIDH calls for his immediate and unconditional release and for all charges against him to be abandoned.

24.11.2011 Statement by members of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” on the sentence to Ales Bialiatski

Today, on November 24, 2011, Judge Siarhei Bandarenka of Pershamaiski District Court in Minsk sentenced our colleague – chairman of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, vice-president of FIDH Ales Bialiatski to 4.5 years of imprisonment. The human rights activist was convicted of allegedly committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code – “tax evasion on a large scale”.

23.11.2011 Ales Bialiatski trial: Oral arguments (online). Verdict due on 24 November.

Judge Siarhei Bandarenka of Minsk Pershamaiski District Court has resumed the hearing of the criminal case of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski.

23.11.2011 Joint Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the trial of Human Rights defender Ales Byalyatski

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, and Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, made today the following statement:

“We are seriously concerned about the detention and prosecution of internationally renownedBelarusian human rights defender Ales Byalyatski for alleged tax evasion. "

22.11.2011 Ales Bialiatski trial continued: Another break till 23 November

Minsk Maskouski District Court is continuing to host the trial of VIasna leader Ales Bialiatski, facing tax evasion charges.

18.11.2011 A brief review of the fifth day of the Ales Bialiatski hearing

November 16, 2011 in Minsk saw the fifth day of the hearing of Human Rights Center Viasna Head and Vice-president of FIDH Ales Bialiatski.

Today's hearing was devoted to the disclosure of a new version of the indictment.