The trial in the criminal case against Vyasna is over. The verdict in the Viasna case will be announced in early spring, at 12:00 Minsk time on March 3. Today our colleagues pronounced their last word in court. We publish the highlights from their speeches.
Ales Bialitski: “A broad public dialog aimed at national reconciliation should be initiated”
"If we think of Belarus as our common homeland, where there is room for everyone, regardless of different political views and geopolitical preferences; if we do not want to plunge the country into poverty; if we do not want mass migration out of Belarus in search of a better life; if we want to get a chance for economic, social, political, ecological development of our people — we must start this national dialogue! Enough is enough, we must stop this civil war. I hope that my words will be heard."
Valiantsin Stefanovic: “Our persecution is entirely political. But it will never stop Viasna from working”
“Our persecution is entirely political. But it will never stop Viasna from working. We have not lived our lives in vain, we have prepared our successors. New generations of Belarusian human rights defenders have grown up and are continuing our work. The natural course of life cannot be stopped. Winter is followed by spring, and spring will inevitably come.”
Uladzimir Labkovich: “The requested term is insurmountable”
“I consider the sentence that was requested by the State Prosecutor for me personally as insurmountable. And at the moment all my thoughts are with my family: my mother, my children, whose names are Adelia, Adam, and Yan, and my wife Nina, who has gone through a great ordeal during all this time.”