The trial against Viasna human rights defenders including Nobel peace prize laureate Ales Bialiatski commenced today, January 5, in the Lieninski District Court of Minsk. Defendants are facing 7 to 12 years of imprisonment. The trial is open to the public, and Viasna is following the process.
Four human rights defenders are being tried: the Viasna chairman and Nobel Peace prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovich, and the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign coordinator Uladzimir Labkovich are in the dock while Zmitser Salauyou, who had to leave Belarus, will be tried in absentia. They are charged with “smuggling by an organized group” under Part 4 Article 228 of the Criminal Code and “financing of group actions grossly violating the public order” under Part 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code. Judge Maryna Zapasnik presides at the hearings. Three human rights defenders have been in custody since July 14, 2021.