Ales Bialiatski

Ales Bialiatski was born on September 25, 1962, in Vyartsilya, Karelia, Soviet Union, which is now part of Russia. He is a Belarusian human rights activist and chairman of the Viasna Human Rights Centre. Bialiatski has been a prominent figure in the fight for democracy and human rights in Belarus, known for his advocacy against the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko.

On April 10, 1996, Ales Bialiatski founded the Viasna Human Rights Center in Belarus. The organization was established to support political prisoners and promote democracy and human rights in the country. Viasna became one of the leading human rights organizations in Belarus, documenting violations and providing legal and financial assistance to those affected by government repression.

On August 4, 2011, Ales Bialiatski was arrested by Belarusian authorities. He was charged with tax evasion, a charge widely considered to be politically motivated due to his human rights activism and leadership of the Viasna Human Rights Center. His arrest sparked international condemnation, and numerous human rights organizations campaigned for his release.

On November 24, 2011, Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for alleged tax evasion. This sentencing was criticized by the international community as a politically motivated act aiming to silence Bialiatski and his human rights work. His imprisonment was seen as part of a broader crackdown by the Belarusian government against activists and NGOs.

Ales Bialiatski was released from prison on June 21, 2014, after serving nearly three years of his 4.5-year sentence. His release was unexpected and came after sustained international pressure and campaigning by human rights organizations worldwide. Bialiatski vowed to continue his fight for democracy and human rights in Belarus following his release.

In March 2020, Ales Bialiatski was among the nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for his decades-long work in promoting human rights and democratic freedoms in Belarus. His nomination highlighted the international recognition of his tireless efforts to support political prisoners and challenge the oppressive regime in Belarus.

Following the disputed Belarusian presidential election on August 9, 2020, Ales Bialiatski and the Viasna Human Rights Centre documented widespread government crackdowns on protesters. Bialiatski played a key role in calling for an end to police violence and the release of political prisoners, as mass protests erupted across the country against President Lukashenko's regime.

On July 14, 2021, Ales Bialiatski was once again detained along with other Viasna activists amid a severe crackdown on civil society organizations by Belarusian authorities. His detention was part of a broader attempt to stifle dissent and dismantle human rights organizations in the country, leading to widespread international condemnation and calls for his release.

On October 7, 2022, Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his decades-long fight for democracy and human rights in Belarus. The Nobel Committee highlighted his unwavering dedication to the cause of freedom and his courageous efforts to support political prisoners, amidst an increasingly oppressive environment under the Lukashenko regime.

On March 1, 2023, Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of smuggling and financing actions that grossly violate public order. Human rights organizations condemned the charges as fabricated and politically motivated. The trial was part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Belarus, drawing international attention and calls for Bialiatski's release.