Latest conviction of human rights defenders in Belarus criminalizes their work and is contrary to international standards: OSCE human rights office

WARSAW, 3 March 2023 – Following today’s conviction of four Belarusian human rights defenders, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) voices deep concern over the targeting of human rights defenders and the criminalizing of their work.

Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and Uladzimir Labkovich, all members of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, one of the oldest and most respected Belarusian human rights organizations, were sentenced by Minsk’s Leninsky District Court to 10, 9, and 7 years in prison respectively. All three have spent the last 18 months in pretrial detention. Zmitser Salauyou, who has already fled Belarus, was handed down an 8-year prison sentence in absentia. 

Today’s verdict is the latest in a series of cases brought against “Viasna”, whose founder Bialiatski has received numerous international awards for his human rights work, including the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Over the last two years, numerous human rights organizations have been shut down following court orders or have decided to close, as it has become extremely difficult to operate safely in Belarus.

The proceedings and today’s sentences demonstrate a lack of respect for the right to a fair trial, including the right to an independent court and to an effective defence. This is at odds with commitments by Belarus and all other OSCE countries to uphold the rule of law.

ODIHR has repeatedly called on the Belarusian authorities not to criminalize the work of human rights defenders and offered its assistance in monitoring trials to assess compliance with fair trial rights and other commitments it has made to ensure its legislation is in line with international human rights standards.

In November 2021, ODIHR voiced its disquiet about the conviction and sentencing handed down to Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapiuk from "Viasna". Human rights defenders in Belarus continue to experience physical violence, groundless administrative detention, and fines, as well as police raids, with others reportedly being detained in poor conditions, or labelled as “extremists” and stripped of many of their rights.

ODHIR calls on the Belarusian authorities to release Bialiatski, Stefanovich and Labkovich and to allow all human rights defenders to work freely in the country. During a recent court hearing, Bialiatski called for the release of all political prisoners, a broad amnesty, and an end to repression, leading to a broad public dialogue aimed at national reconciliation.

All OSCE countries have recognized the right to exercise and defend human rights, individually or together with others. They have also acknowledged the vital role of human rights defenders in ensuring respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.