The Nobel laureate called for national reconciliation in court in Belarus – #Nobel #laureate #called #national #reconciliation #court #Belarus
KYIV, Feb 13 (Reuters) – Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Byalyatsky on Monday court in the process political In his last statement, he said that he was motivated by his opposition to the Belarusian authorities.national called for reconciliation.
At the trial in Minsk, 60-year-old Byalyatsky was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment awaiting sentencing, he and three others are accused of financing protests and smuggling money to Belarus. All deny the charges.
Byalyatski, a human rights defender and pro-democracy, is the 20-year-old leader of Alexander Lukashenko20year the president during the suppression of anti-government demonstrations after the announcement of the winner of the elections imprisonment He was among hundreds of people.
“We national we need to start a broad public dialogue aimed at reconciliation”. “That’s enough. We must stop this civil war.”
He is the authority political called for an amnesty for prisoners and an end to repression against dissidents.
Byalyatsky, Russian “Memorial” human rights organization and of Ukraine He was already in prison awaiting trial long before he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last October with the Center for Civil Liberties.
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Started in January court In the process, the prosecutor last week imposed a maximum of 12 years for Byalyatski, and 11 for the defendants, one of whom was abroad and was tried in absentia. 10 and 9 years imprisonment asked for punishment.
“Against us, the rights defenders of “Viasna”. crime work political is motivated,” Byalyatsky said. “Repressions in the country and of human rights The general situation, which is full of total violation, is from the political background of this case news gives”.
Lukashenko 2020He denied that the 2018 elections were rigged and accused the West of funding the protesters. he of human rights denied the accusations of violation.
At least 1,500 human rights activists in prison in Belarus political prisoner that and 2020of at least 50,000 people since protest reports that he was detained for participating in the protests or criticizing the government.
“When one part (of society) crushes and suffocates the other part, the course of confrontation is dangerous and unpromising,” Byalyatsky said.
Kyiv news Writing by Room, edited by Timothy Heritage and David Gregorio
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-02-13 23:48:37
Source – reuters
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