Newly announced prison terms in Belarus signal ‘ongoing repression’

A fresh round of prison sentences announced on Friday in Belarus signal "ongoing repression" in the country, where almost 1,500 people are detained on politically motivated charges, the UN human rights agency says. “The prison sentences delivered today in Belarus against four human rights defenders, including **Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski** , are deeply troubling and indicative of the ongoing repression in the country,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR. Tweet URL > #Belarus: Concerned by today's prison sentencing of 4 rights defenders, incl > Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, on smuggling & extremism- > related charges. UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk urges ALL govts to end > arbitrary detention once & for all: https://t.co/Tc0fCPin3F > https://t.co/c37daVBwKa > > UN Human Rights > > UNHumanRights > > March 3, 2023 **UN human rights chief** Volker Türk has **called** for an end to the persecution of human rights defenders and of people expressing dissenting views, and **for an end to arbitrary detention** once and for all, she said. ## **Long prison terms** Authorities announced today that Mr. Bialiatski, chair of the Viasna Human Rights Center, received a 10-year prison sentence related to **smuggling and extremism-related charges**. Three other Viasna members – Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, and Dzmitry Salauyou – were given sentences of nine, seven, and eight years respectively. Mr. Salauyou was tried in absentia. “We remain **deeply concerned** that, as of today, some **1,458 people** are reported to be in detention in Belarus on **politically motivated charges** ,” she said. ## **Convicted for rights work** “The **lack of independence of the judiciary** and other **violations** of fair trial guarantees have resulted in human rights defenders in Belarus being criminally prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced for their legitimate human rights work,” she said. This includes recent prison sentences meted out related to charges of **extremism and high treason** , she added. On 17 February, 10 members of the workers movement Rabochy Rukh, were sentenced to between 12 and 15 years, and on 8 February, journalist Andrzej Poczobut, was sentenced to eight years in prison.

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