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– The fact that Belarus is closing the borders for international observers reinforces our concern that Ales Bialiatski will not get a fair and just trial, said Marie Månson, Civil Rights Defenders.

On November 2 starts the trial of Ales Bialiatski, who is suspected of serious tax evasion and faces up to seven years in prison. As Viasna has not been able to register since 2003, and thereby could not operate legally in Belarus, the staff was forced to open private bank accounts abroad. The charges are connected to the functioning of these accounts.

– The Belarusian regime is tightening its grip, said Berit Lindeman, Norwegian Helsinki Committee. We have seen journalists and political opposition being put in prison. Now the persecution has reached human rights defenders, for whom Ales Bialiatski is the most prominent representative.

Ever since the presidential election in December 2010, the human rights situation in Belarus has been in free fall. The regime has put all its energy to repress civil society and the political opposition.

– In October, the Belarusian parliament without any public debate adopted a number of legislative changes, which restrict freedom of assembly and association even more. In addition, the changes allow for significant expansion of the powers of KGB, said Ane Tusvik Bonde, Human Rights House Foundation.

"Human rights watch" urges to drop charges against Bialiatski
On 1 November organization issued a statement which said that "if the Belarusian authorities really want to demonstrate their readiness to defend human rights and the rule of law, their first step should be to free Bialiatski and clear him of all charges."

"The government of Belarus for more than 16 years was continuously tightening control over civil society. Persecuting Bialiatski, the authorities are trying to ultimately shut down the work of human rights defenders in Belarus", – said Europe and Central Asia director at HRW Hugh Williamson.

"Lukashenko can not be trusted"
"Lukashenko can not be trusted – his words on the release of all political prisoners before the end of October mean nothing. Nevertheless, Belarus should immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and rehabilitate them, "- said the member of the Bundestag from the Green Party, the coordinator on the issue of Eastern Europe Marie-Louise Beck and Vice President of German parliament Katrin Goering-Eckard (who has taken on prisoner’s godparenthood for Ales Bialiatski within a campaign «Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights») on the eve of the trial of the head of the human rights centre "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski

According to Goering-Eckardt and Beck it is tragic that "some EU countries like Poland and Lithuania are partly guilty for the criminal prosecution as they revealed information about “Viasna” bank accounts to Minsk".

"This case caused great damage to the reliability and aspiration of the EU to actively support civil society in Belarus. It also demonstrated the inadequacy of the EU instruments in the fight against dictatorships, these tools must be immediately reconsidered. EU can not idly watch the actions of Lukashenka. For example, in Belarus – a country where the regime attacks the civil society, it is unacceptable to hold the world championship in ice hockey in 2014, "- said Katrin Goering-Eckardt Marie-Louise Beck.

The trial of Ales Bialiatski starts at 10.00 am on November 2 in Minsk Maskouski district court.

At this site the control committee gives information about the trial of Ales constantly:

http://www.hrwatch-by.org/en/node/285

For more information please contact:

Marie Månson, Programme Director, Civil Rights Defenders,          +4…       

Berit Lindeman, Director of Communications Norwegian Helsinki Committee,          +4…       

Ane Tusvik Bonde, Regional Manager, Human Rights House Foundation,          +4…       

Mariana Rocha, Advocacy Officer, International Partnership for Human Rights,          +3…       

***

Bialiatski was detained on 4 August near the Victory Square in Minsk and brought to the office of his NGO for a search. His apartment in Minsk and summer house outside the Belarusian capital were also searched.

According to the Department of financial investigation of Committee on governmental control, Ales Bialiatski has to pay around 150 million rubles or 29 thousand US dollars at National Bank exchange rate, from the money transferred to his account in Lithuanian bank. The colleagues of Bialiatski say that this funds were directed to help the victims of Belarusian regime. In 2003, licence of "Viasna" was cancelled, therefore the human rights defenders had to look for different ways to continue their activity.

Article 243.2 of the Belarusian Criminal Code “Tax evasion on an especially large scale” provides for an imprisonment for up to seven years and confiscation of property.

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