OSCE chairman calls to free Ales Byalyatski

• 27.01.2012, 11:27

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Eamon Gilmore, expressed regret that a cassation appeal of Viasna human rights centre head Ales Byalyatski was dismissed.

“A person should not be prosecuted for protecting human rights. This case is an unfortunate reflection of the state of human rights in Belarus and a result of the restrictions imposed on freedom of association in the country. I urge the Belarusian authorities to immediately release Ales Byalyatski and all other civil society activists, and political opponents,” the OSCE chairman and Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs said, Viasna human rights cenre informs.

“The continued erosion of human rights in the country is very worrying. By persecuting human rights defenders and limiting the freedom of association, Belarus is falling short of its OSCE commitments,” Gilmore added.