Ales Byalyatski: “Authorities fearing international publicity of trial over human rights activists”

Head of “Nasha Viasna” human rights center commented on ban to enter Belarus to the president of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).

We remind that president of the International Federation of Human Rights Souhayr Belhassen was refused a Belarusian visa in the Belarusian consulate in Paris.

During her planned visit to Belarus Souhayr Belhassen intended to meet with representatives of the civil society, to discuss the situation with the democracy in Belarus, and to participate in hearings of the case of denied state registration of the public human rights association “Nasha Viasna”, which is to start on August 10 in the Supreme Court.

Ales Byalyatski, FIDH vice president and head of “Nasha Viasna” human rights center, told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center that the authorities continued isolating the Belarusian society.

“The reason of banning entry to Belarus for Souhayr Belhassen seems obvious to me, it lies on the surface,” Ales Byalayatski says. “Hearing of the case on non-registration of “Nasha Viasna” human rights group in the Supreme Court is scheduled for August 10. Souhayr Belhassen planned to attend the hearing. Taking into account the fact that I am the FIDH vice president, they authorities feared international publicity of this judicial process.”

Ales Byalyatski reminds that the International Federation of Human Rights and in particular Souhayr Belhassen herself have repeatedly criticized the Belarusian authorities for disrespect for human rights in the country.

“Souhayr Belhassen harshly criticized the human rights situation in Belarus,” the human rights activist says. “She expressed her position to the Belarusian authorities several times. FIDH prepared and continues preparing reports on violation of human rights in our country. The human rights organization has recently worked out a press release on Belarusian political prisoners. FIDH also wrote about the trial over participant of the Process of 14 Artsyom Dubski. The Belarusian authorities don’t like this. The experience shows that the authorities agree only on economic relations with the EU. They purposefully continue to hinder development of NGOs and their dialogue with Europe. This demonstrates that the authorities don’t want to respect human rights in the country. Thus, they are not ready for full cooperation with the European Union.”

Ales Byalyatski reminds that refusal to grant visa to Souhayr Belhassen is not the first case when the Belarusian authorities don’t allow EU representatives criticising the regime in Belarus.

We remind that Danish human rights Jens-Kristian Lütken was detain in a Minsk airport in late July. The human rights activist who had an acting Belarusian visa, spent a night in a closed room in the airport with 4 unknown persons, and on July 24 he was given back the passport with a stamp with bans entry into the country. Lütken told mass media he hadn’t been allowed in Minsk on political motives.