29 March 2024, Friday, 17:58
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Ales Byalyatski in Zhodzina detention facility

Ales Byalyatski in Zhodzina  detention facility

On February 13, political prisoner's wife Natallya Pinchuk visited the detention facility in Zhodzina.

She was told her husband Ales Byalyatski was there, Radio Svaboda reports. “I hope to pass him a parcel tomorrow,” Natallya Pinchuk said.

The court ruling against the human rights activist came into force on January 24, when the Minsk City Court dismissed Ales Byalyatski's appeal. Byalyatski is expected to be transferred to a penal colony in the nearest time.

Ales Byalyatski, the head of Viasna human rights centre, was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison in November 2011. He was found guilty of tax evasion. The human rights activist did not admit his guilt and said the money on his accounts had been spent on human rights activity.

On January 18, human rights activist's wife Natallya Pinchuk transferred over 757mn rubles (about $90,000) collected by citizens to the account of the justice department of the Minsk city executive committee for the Pershamaiski district court. “It is the sum, which must be paid by Byalyatski according to the court decision,” she said.

The reason for criminal prosecution of Byalyatski was information about his bank accounts disclosed to official Minsk by Lithuania and Poland.

Bylyatski has been in the detention facility in Zhodzina.

The EU, the US and international human rights groups consider Byalyatski a political prisoner and say the verdict against him is politically motivated. They demand the Belarusian authorities to free the human rights activist.

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