Ales Byalatski: “Trial over Artsyom Dubski is disgraceful political process”

Human rights activists state that one more political prisoner appeared in Belarus after the arrest of the Young Front activist Artsyom Dubski.

On June 7 the court of Asipovichy district of Minsk made a ruling to imprison participant of the Process of Fourteen Artsyom Dubski for one year. Artsyom Dubski was recognized prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

In the interview to the Charter’97 press-centre the head of the human rights centre “Viasna” Ales Byalatski states that a new political prisoner has appeared in Belarus.

“Artsyom Dubski’s arrest is outrageous,” Ales Byalatski said. “Despite of the demands of Belarusian and international human rights organisations to stop repressions against participants of peaceful rallies, despite of the fact that Amnesty International recognized persons involved in the Process of Fourteen prisoners of conscience and called upon their release, the authorities still pass such harsh judgments. It is a very bad sign. Besides, Artsyom Dubski was mentioned in several international resolutions demanding his vindication. In fact, the era of “political liberalization” is over in our country. Undoubtedly, a new political prisoner has appeared in Belarus”.

The human rights activist notes that Belarusian authorities do not take in consideration opinion of international organisations and conduct back-and-forth policy.

“It is not clear how the Belarusian authorities will mend fences with the European Union,” stated Ales Byalatski. “Policy should be consistent. And the Belarusian authorities on the contrary demonstrate strongly marked inconsistence. And this inconsistence causes greater doubt of Europeans. Recently an amnesty was taking place in Belarus, and the regime could simply amnesty participants of the Process of Fourteen. As far as we know, only to of them have been vindicated. As for Maxim Dashuk and Artsyom Dubski, quite the opposite, disgraceful political processes have been held. And last year and this year Dashuk and Dubski were convicted on political grounds».

It should be noted that minor Maxim Dashuk, involved in the Process of Fourteen, was sentenced to 1 year 3 months of restriction of freedom without sending him to correctional facility of open type for alleged violation of the rules of serving the sentence.

Belarusian human rights activists express their concern over imprisonment of participants of peaceful rallies.