Ales Byalyatski charged

Ales Byalyatski, chairman of Vyasna human rights centre, has been presented officially accused of tax evasion.

He is charged under Article 243 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (large-scale tax evasion), BelaPAN agency was informed by Uladzimir Labkovich, a human rights defender.

As said by him, Byalyatski faces from 3 to 7 years of imprisonment under this article.

As noted by Labkovich, the measure of restraint for Byalyatski has not been chosen yet. “The 10-days’ term of arrest has not expired yet, and Byalyatski remains in custody. However, until Sunday evening, August 14, Byalyatski can be released from the remand prison, for example, on recognizance,” Labkovich believes.

As a rule, the measure of restraint remains the same (keeping in custody) as long as oppositionists are concerned.

Bank accounts of the human rights organization, formalized as Ales Byalyatski’s personal accounts, had been given out to Belarusian authorities by Justice Ministries of Poland and Lithuania