Imprisoned Valancin Stefanovič re-elected FIDH vice-president

October 28, BPN. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has re-elected Valancin Stefanovič of the Viasna Human Rights Center as FIDH vice-president, a position he has held since 2019, Viasna reported.

Stefanovič who is currently imprisoned on politically-motivated charges in Belarus thanked his colleagues from all over the world for their support in a letter read out to the FIDH Centenary Congress.

“Human rights solidarity is a powerful force and I believe I will soon be able to join you to walk together on this difficult path, towards world harmony, love and peace,” he wrote.

Belarusian authorities arrested Stefanovič along with Viasna head Aleś Bialacki and his associate Uładzimir Łabkovič in July 2021 on charges of tax evasion, which were later reclassified to smuggling and financing protests. The human rights community considers them political prisoners.