Ales Bialiatski: My Award Is Black Mark For Belarusian Authorities

The human rights activist has commented on the presentation of the French-German award.

Belarusian human rights activist, chairman of the Visana human rights center Ales Bialiatski has been awarded the French-German prize “For Human Rights and Supremacy of Law”, Radio Svaboda informs.

Bialiatski is one of the 15 current laureates of the prestigious award. In 2016, it was awarded to Chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak.

Opening the ceremony, French Ambassador Didier Canesse expressed deep respect for the tireless work of Ales Bialiatski, and his colleagues:

“This prize is our gratitude to you for what you have done throughout your life to protect the principles of democracy and human rights in Belarus. It came to you at a great cost - for three years you were in prison under the politically motivated sentence. France does not forget about this injustice.”

German Ambassador Manfred Huterer also praised the work of Ales Bialiatski:

“This award is a special recognition of your outstanding achievements in the protection of human rights and the supremacy of law, it is given to you for your courage and your activities. It is also a symbol of the French-German cooperation.”

Ales Bialiatski, in response, made a program speech in which he referred to the human rights issues in Belarus and in the world, including new trials against human rights defenders. Bialiatski said that the award was given not only to him, but to the entire Belarusian human rights community. Such remuneration would also be impossible without the “participation” of the Belarusian authorities, which systematically violate human rights, said Bialiatski:

"This award is given as a black mark for the Belarusian authorities from the countries to which human rights are essential in the foreign policy outlook, as Belarus still has an authoritarian regime, people are deprived of fundamental rights.”

Ales Bialiatski mentioned the results of such a policy - almost 250 fines for social activists and journalists totalling 75 thousand euros, the criminal cases against journalists and Brest blogger Siarhei Piatrukhin.

Bialiatski recalled human rights defender Mikhail Zhamchuzhny, who now remains in prison for political reasons, suffering from abuse, spending most of the time in a punishment cell. Bialiatski also called the election to the “House of representatives” fully rigged, declared the elected “parliament” illegitimate. He called on the legitimate parliaments not to cooperate with it.

Bialiatski also mentioned the threat to the independence of Belarus from Russia, the death penalty, which remains in the country, torture, violation of the linguistic rights of Belarusians, violence towards women.

“Nevertheless, colleagues, I urge us all not to become disappointed in what we are doing, not to give up. Our persistent and consistent work, I am convinced, will give good results for the future of our people.”

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus were invited to the event, but they did not come.