The Belarusian Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday held the first session of the trial against Belarusian activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, who is charged with smuggling, according to the NGO Viasna, of which he is the founder.
His deputy, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and the coordinator of the campaign ‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections, Vladimir Labkovich, are also on trial for «acting as part of an organized group from April 4, 2016 to July 14, 2021,» the NGO has reported.
Judge Marina Zapasnik is presiding over the hearings. Bialiatski faces 12 years in prison for moving «large amounts of cash withdrawn in Lithuania across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union.»
Specifically, as reported by the NGO, it would be up to $54,000 (51,300 euros). «Viasna’s accounts on social networks and messaging apps were used to provide informational support for its activities,» the indictment claims.
According to the indictments, between May 2020 and July 14, 2021, the defendants deliberately prepared citizens to participate in group actions that seriously violate public order. Moreover, under the guise of charitable activities, including on behalf of Viasna, they financed such actions, the prosecution believes.
Bialiatski, who spent three years in prison, between 2011 and 2014, being subsequently detained after the 2020 post-election protests, received the Nobel Peace Prize last October 7 and was the fourth person to be recognized with the award while in prison.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
