Ales Bialiatski: No offence with Lithuania

The Belarusian human rights defender says he has no offence with Lithuania, though it disclosed information that caused his criminal prosecution.

“No offence, no anger,” Bialiatski said at a press conference in Vilnius on Friday.

He began the press conference with these words saying that he wanted to answer the question that would be asked in any case, ru.delfi.lt reports.

“It wasn't the Lithuanian authorities that threw me in jail. I was imprisoned by the Belarusian authorities,” the human rights defender said.

Bialiatski expressed a hope that other political prisoners would also be released. He says seven people are held in prisons in Belarus on political motives.

Before the press conference, Bialiatksi removed the poster “Freedom for Ales Bialiatski” from the doors of the the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House in Vilnius.

The leader of Viasna human rights centre says it's too early to regard the release as the start of positive changes in the human rights sector in Belarus. The West should not make hasty conclusions, according to him.

“No serious talks on improving relations are possible as long as there are political prisoners in Belarus,” Bialiatski emphasised.

He says he and his family will remain in Belarus, because he sees no reasons for leaving the country. Answering the question whether he feels safe in Belarus, the human rights defender said it was a philosophical question.

Bialiatski arrived in Vilnius for a meeting of Belarusian human rights defenders. He noted he planned to visit the country's MFA to have informal meetings with Lithuanian MPs and held a meeting with Mayor of Vilnius Arturas Zuokas.