Skip to main content

Belarus' Nobel Peace Prize recipient begins trial in Russia, according to rights group

 On Thursday, the jailed Nobel Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski began his trial in Minsk in what his supporters believe is an effort to crack down on Viasna, the leading rights organisation in Belarus that he created.

Belarus' Nobel Peace Prize recipient begins trial in Russia, according to rights group

Ales Bialiatski, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize last year, created Viasna (Spring), the most well-known rights organisation in the totalitarian nation, in 1996.

Ales Bialiatski, along with his friends Valentin Stefanovich and Vladimir Labkovich, was reportedly spotted in the defendants' cage at the beginning of the hearing, according to Viasna's social media posts.

Ales Bialiatski, 60, and his comrades were imprisoned following massive anti-regime protests in 2020 when autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in elections that were widely recognised as being rigged.

Vladimir Putin's assistance allowed Lukashenko to repress the opposition movement, imprisoning or expelling his detractors.

Following the start of the high-profile Viasna trial, the trials for independent journalists and the exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya will also begin.

Since July 2021, Bialiatski, Stefanovich, and Labkovich have been detained. They were first charged with tax evasion.

According to Viasna, the rights activists are now being held responsible for allegedly smuggling "a considerable amount of cash" into Belarus to finance opposition activities. They risk a sentence of seven to twelve years in prison.

The largest independent news organisation in Belarus, Tut.by, will have numerous staffers on trial on Monday, including its editor-in-chief Marina Zolotova.

Charges against them include tax evasion and "inciting hostility." In 2021, the media outlet was labelled "extreme." Andrzej Poczobut, a 49-year-old journalist and activist who is Polish-Belarusian, will be brought before a judge in the western city of Grodno on the same day.

According to Viasna, he was arrested in March 2021 and accused with inciting hatred and making "calls for activities aimed at causing harm to the national security of Belarus." If found guilty, he may spend up to 12 years in prison.

Tikhanovskaya will stand trial in absentia on January 17. The 40-year-old is accused of a plethora of offences, including high treason, conspiring to usurp legitimate authority, and founding and running an extremist organisation.

Tikhanovskaya, who won the contentious 2020 presidential election in Belarus, is currently living in exile in Lithuania.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PM Modi Stresses Climate Finance and Technology at COP28 for Global South's Ambitions

 During the COP28 Presidency's session on Transforming Climate Finance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the crucial role of climate finance and technology in realizing the aspirations of countries in the Global South, including India. Despite their limited contribution to climate change, these nations bear immense consequences, and PM Modi highlighted their unwavering commitment to climate action, despite resource constraints. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi stated, "We all know that countries in the Global South, including India, have played a lesser role in climate change. But the impact of climate change on them is immense. Despite a lack of resources, these countries are committed to climate action." He expressed the expectation of Global South nations for robust support from developed countries to combat climate change, considering the natural and justified need for assistance. PM Modi welcomed the decision to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund, adopte
Post a Comment
Read more

Bangladesh Military Expresses Discontent Over Chinese Weapons; Reports 'Sub-Standard' and Faulty Parts

  Bangladesh, a traditional buyer of Chinese military equipment, has raised grievances with Beijing regarding the delivery of defective components and technical malfunctions in its imported military hardware. This issue is not unique to Bangladesh, as other nations like Myanmar have also encountered problems with Chinese fighter jets, according to an ET report. Experts in the Chinese defense industry argue that Beijing lacks the expertise to manufacture highly sophisticated military hardware and is not yet considered a top-tier producer of modern defense equipment. They claim that much of China's weapon systems are based on outdated technology copied from the West. Developing countries often opt for Chinese weapons due to their lower cost compared to similar systems from Western countries. China sells arms through state-run export organizations like the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), NORINCO, and CVIC. Sources familiar with the matter told ET that the Bangladesh mil
Post a Comment
Read more

North Korea Celebrates 'New Era of a Space Power' after Satellite Launch

  In a significant development, North Korea recently celebrated what it termed a 'new era of a space power' following the successful launch of a satellite. The reclusive nation's space endeavors have long been a source of international concern and scrutiny, raising questions about its technological capabilities and intentions. This latest achievement has reignited debates and speculation about North Korea's space ambitions. The satellite launch, conducted by North Korea's space agency, comes amid a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and global attention on the Korean Peninsula. The state media hailed the event as a major milestone, highlighting the successful deployment of the satellite into orbit. However, it is important to note that the international community remains skeptical, with concerns over the dual-use nature of space technology that could potentially be applied to ballistic missile systems. North Korea's pursuit of space capabilities has been a conten
Post a Comment
Read more