Human rights activists in Armenia call for Belyatsky’s release
A group of human rights activists in Armenia today staged a protest action outside the Belarusian Embassy in Yerevan condemning the arrest of prominent human rights activist, head of the human rights group Viasna and vice-president of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) Ales Belyatsky.
He was arrested a month ago on tax evasion charges.
Carrying posters with inscriptions, "Freedom to Belyatsky and prisoners of conscience," the posters called on the Belarusian authorities to release the human rights activist and dismiss the charges against him.
The charges filed against Belyatsky do not correspond with reality. He is a renowned human rights activist and a good friend of mine," President of Helsinki Association Mikhail Danielyan told A1+.
The action participants believe that the arrest was politically motivated and call for his his immediate release. If proved guilty, Belyatsky faces up to seven years' imprisonment.
Human rights activist Artak Zeynalyan says that in many countries authorities apply different sanctions against "unwanted" figures so as to get rid of them.
"Like Armenia, Belarus is a dictatorial country which does not admit the existence of political prisoners," he said.
Armenian human rights activists submitted a letter with 900 signatures to the embassy guaranteeing that Belyatsky will not intervene with the investigation if released on bail.
Similar actions have been organized in Ukraine, Russia and Kirgizstan. Earlier, Amnesty International recognized Ales Belyatsky as prisoner of conscience.
