EP President urges to free Viasna head

Jerzy Buzek released a statement just after the detention of the Belarusian human rights activist.

The President of the European Parliament expresses his concern over the ongoing harassment on Viasna human rights centre and its head Ales Byalyatski. Jerzy Buzek urges the Belarusian authorities to release the human rights activist and other political prisoners, PAP informs.

We remind that Ales Byalyatski was detained yesterday evening. Policemen searched Viasna’s office, Byalyatski’s flat and summer house and took him to the Financial Investigation Department for interrogation. He is supposed to be accused of tax evasion of a large scale. Byalyatski may face up to seven years in prison.