Belarus arrests prominent human rights activist

[News_Editor]

Belarus arrests prominent human rights activist

2011-08-06 00:13:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

MINSK (BNO NEWS) -- Belarusian authorities arrested one of the country's most prominent human rights activists over alleged tax evasion in Minsk, RIA Novosti reported on Friday.

Ales Belyatsky, head of the human rights group Vesna, was arrested on Thursday, Vesna activist Anastasia Loiko said, adding that police seized Belyatsky's computer and several documents after raiding his apartment and office. He is accused of evading taxes, a charge that carries a maximum seven-year sentence.

Nikolai Khalezin, head of the Belarusian Free Theater, said in his blog that a month ago Lithuania gave Minsk sensitive information about the bank accounts of Belarusian rights organizations registered there as well as individual activists, including Belyatsky. He added that it was easier for Belarusian rights groups to open bank accounts in Lithuania, but things have changed since Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite began expressing support for the policies of Belarusian President Alexander Luskashenko.

"It is not known who gave that order but now it is not only Ales Belyatsky and the rights center Vesna that are under pressure, it is a lot of Belarusian independent organizations and social activists," Khalezin said, as reported by RIA Novosti.

Meanwhile, the United Nations expressed concern over the arrest and called on authorities to guarantee the well-being of Belyatsky, who is also the Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights. It reminded the Government of Belarus that it is obliged, by the international treaties which it has ratified, to ensure the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders.

"His whereabouts were initially unknown but it is now confirmed that he is in police custody," Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, told reporters.

"Given the many worrying reports of harassment of human rights defenders in Belarus, we call on the authorities to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of [Mr.] Belyatsky and all human rights defenders in Belarus," she stated.

The European Union also voiced concern about the arrest and urged authorities to explain the reasons behind Belyatsky's detention. "The High Representative reiterates her strong regret at repeated acts of intimidation and harassment of peaceful human rights defenders in Belarus, and at the continued refusal to grant legal status to independent human rights organizations in the country," the spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

Hundreds of people were arrested throughout Belarus last month for taking part in street protests against Lukashenko's authoritarian 16-year rule.

President Lukashenko has been accused of repressing opposition and activists in the past. More than 600 citizens of Belarus were detained after the December 19 demonstration in central Minsk following the reelection of Lukashenko, who won a fourth term in office with almost 80 percent of the vote. The results, however, were disputed.

The former Soviet republic is gripped by a severe financial crisis, and was forced to devalue its currency by 36% in May.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-06