SBIO congratulates Ales Bialatski on his release

SBIO warmly congratulates Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, who was released from prison after more than three years in prison, under an amnesty.

On Saturday, June 21^st, at Minsk’s main railway station, the activist was met by dozens of caring people. After his release, Ales shared his thoughts with journalists of the independent Russian TV channel “Dozhd”. According Bialiatski, a repeat of the “Maidan” is also possible in Belarus and in Russia. As evidence, Ales recalled the events of the early nineties in Eastern Europe.

Brussels’ reaction to the release the leader of Viasna human rights organization was quick to follow. The European Union expressed hope for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus, and their full rehabilitation. The EU hailed Bialiatski’s early release as an “important step by the Belarusian authorities”.

The United States also welcomed the early release of human rights defender as a “positive development”. “These actions would pave the way for normalization of relations between the United States and Belarus”, said Jen Psaki, spokesman for the US Department of State.

Ales Bialiatski spoke at a press conference at Viasna Human Rights Centre in Minsk on Monday morning where he said that he would continue doing as much as he could what he had done before his imprisonment.

Ales Byalyatski spent a total of 1,050 days behind bars.

Photo by Siarhei Hudzilin, Наша Ніва