Today, a Minsk Court sentenced members of the Viasna Human Rights Centre, including its chairman and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, deputy chairman Valiantsin Stefanovic, Zmitser Salauyou, (tried in absentia) and lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich, to ten, nine, eight, and seven years respectively in prison on fake and politically motivated charges.

The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms their sham trials that are yet another appalling example of the Lukashenko regime trying to silence those who stand up in defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people in Belarus. Lukashenko will not succeed. Their call for freedom is loud, even behind bars.

The EU calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the more than 1450 political prisoners in Belarus. They have been brutally persecuted for daring to oppose the human rights violations in Belarus and for rejecting Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Belarus’ role in this aggression. The EU stands ready to react to repression and human rights abuses by the regime against its population.

When receiving his Nobel Peace Prize, Ales Bialiatski stated that those who value freedom the most are often deprived of it.

The EU will continue to support all those who bravely strive for a sovereign, free, democratic, safe and prosperous Belarus.