NED presents Democracy Service Medal to rights defender Bialacki

September 11, Pozirk. The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has presented the Democracy Service Medal to Belarusian human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aleś Bialacki, a former political prisoner.

“Just nine months ago I was held in prison under tough conditions and could not imagine that I would ever be free. Not a single minute upon my release I forget that more than 900 [political] prisoners still remain in Łukašenka prisons,” the Viasna Human Rights Center quoted him as saying at the ceremony.

“As America marks its 250th anniversary, NED’s Democracy Awards honored people carrying forward the promise of 1776—and defending the fundamental freedoms at the heart of democratic life,” said NED’s announcement of the award presentation ceremony.

Established in 1999, the Democracy Service Medal is awarded to honor individuals who show personal commitment and courage in advancing human rights, freedom and democratic institutions.

Its recipients include Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, Lech Wałęsa, Vaclav Havel and Dalai Lama.

NED is a US government agency established in 1983. It is financed by the Congress with grants distributed by the US Information Agency.

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Belarusian Nobel Prize winner Bialacki meets with US special envoy 

September 9, Pozirk. Belarusian Nobel Prize winner Aleś Bialacki (Ales Bialiatski), who was released from a Belarusian prison last December, met with US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale in Washington on September 8.  According to Bialacki, the meeting “took place in a warm atmosphere,” the …

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