Prosecutor demands harsher sentences for convicted Viasna leaders

March 29, BPN. Prosecutor Alaksandr Karol has appealed the ruling of the Leninski District Court of Minsk that sentenced the Viasna Human Rights Center leaders to lengthy prison terms ranging from 7 to 10 years, spring96.org reported.

At the trial, the prosecutor requested a 12-year prison term for Aleś Bialacki, the founder of Viasna who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, and from 11 to 10 years in prison for his associates.

On March 3, judge Maryna Zapaśnik sentenced Bialacki to 10 years in prison; his deputy Valancin Stefanovič, to nine years; Uładzimir Łabkovič, coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign, to seven years. Źmicier Sałaŭjoŭ, exiled human rights defender, was given eight years in absentia.

The judge also sentenced the human rights defenders to lower fines than requested by the prosecutor.

Bialacki and his associates were tried for allegedly financing protests in Belarus and smuggling cash for their human rights work.

The EU, USA and UN Human Rights Office condemned the trial as unfair.