Belarusian Writers Demand To Release Niakliayeu

The Council of the Belarusian Writers' Union demanded that the authorities immediately release the poet and politician from the prison.

The Council of the Belarusian Writers' Union demanded that the authorities immediately release the poet and prose writer, the winner of the Yanka Kupala State Award, Uladzimir Niakliayeu, from the prison, Radio Svaboda informs.

"We demand that the Belarusian authorities stop the repressions against Uladzimir Niakliayeu, immediately release him from the detention center, remove unfair accusations, and bring to justice those officials who violate the constitutional rights of citizens," – the Belarusian Writers' Union says in a special statement.

Uladzimir Niakliayeu was detained along with other political activists on March 21, the International Day of Poetry. In the opinion of the Council, Niakliayeu's arrest is connected with holding festive events in honor of the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of BPR's independence in Minsk on March 25.

"Nevertheless, as it became known, Uladzimir Niakliayeu is officially charged with the "call to participate in unauthorized mass events", namely, his last year's interview to the Belsat TV channel, where he expressed the opinion that "if there is a will to protect one's rights, then one must go and protect them," – the statement says.

Despite the protests of public organizations and human rights activists, Uladzimir Niakliayeu was sentenced to an administrative arrest, which the execution authorities timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Belarusian independence.