Byalyatskі: Don’t give in to authorities’ blackmail!
The General Prosecutor’s Office has warned the chairperson of the human rights centre “Vyasna”. But he is not going to stop his work.
Ales Byalyatski, chairperson of the human rights centre “Vyasna”, was summoned to the Belarusian General Prosecutor’s Office on February 16. The human rights defender was warned about the inadmissibility of acting on behalf of an unregistered organization. Mr. Byalyatski guessed the subpoena was connected with it.
Ales Byalyatski: "A representative of the Prosecutor’ Office Paval Yeliseyeu talked to me. He presented me a warning about the inadmissibility of violating the law. The warning referred to the work of the human rights centre “Vyasna” and it was stated that we were not registered. In connection with it our activities contradicted the Belarusian legislation and the Prosecutor’s Office officially warned us about the inadmissibility of violating the law. It was also explained that the possibility of subjecting me to responsibility would be considered if the law violation continued. It was a formal procedure… I refused to give any explanations because it was my constitutional right. Nevertheless, we received the warning”.
In Ales Byalyatski’s opinion, the authorities “have recalled” the practice of warnings pronounced for activities said to be violating the Belarusian legislation that was rather common a few years ago.
"They have started warning representatives of “Belarusian Christian Democracy” and journalists again… It is the fist time human rights activists have been warned. It testifies to the fact that the scope of the pressure exercised by the Belarusian authorities on the civil community is being expanded. Human rights activists have also been affected by it although our activity is guaranteed by the Human Rights Defenders Declaration adopted by the UN in 1998. Evidently, Belarus is violating international agreements. It is trying to exercise pressure on representatives of NGOs and on human rights activists in particular.
Naturally, I will oppose to it according to the law: a complaint will be sent to the Attorney General, to court and it will be considered on the international level. Belarus is rudely violating its international commitments. Furthermore, being human rights activists, we cannot allow the authorities to get away with it”, - said the human rights defender.
Despite the warning, Ales Byalyatski is not planning to suspend human rights activities.
Ales Byalyatski: “We should not give in to the state’s blackmail (and there is no other name for it) started before the proceedings of participants of the Dec.19 protest”.
Photo by: generation.by.
