Belarusians called upon to pay 757 millions for Byalyatski

sentence.


The fund-raising campaign has been started by civil and human rights organizations today. It is aimed at paying for “the damage done by the crime” – Ales Byalyatski has to pay for it according to the court’s decision. The court demanded that he paid 757 million 526 thousand 717 roubles. The initiators of the campaign are urging people to help collecting the money within the next few weeks. Valyantsin Stefanovcih explains that Byalyatski’s appeal will be considered by Minsk City Court in a few weeks.
Valyantsіn Stefanovіch: “The date of the hearing has not been appointed yet and we do not know when it will take place. But I think that we have a few weeks. Or three weeks. The money should be collected before the hearing. Minsk City Court may take into account the fact that the so-called compensation has been paid and it may affect the sentence in some way”.

At the same time, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak assures that the initiators of the fund-raising campaign think that Byalyatski is innocent and that the sentence is illegal.
Aleh Hulak: “The appeal and the campaign do not mean that we admit Byalyatski’s guilt or agree with the sentence (4.5 years in a top-security colony and confiscation of property - Euroradio). It is an attempt to help the man in this difficult situation”.

By the way, sentences can be reduced only when convicts plead guilty and pay the compensation. Paying the compensation is considered to be the same as pleading guilty. Byalyatski pleads not guilty. However, the organizers of the campaign have assured Euroradio that Byalyatski has agreed to the campaign. However, he has asked to inform everyone that he pleads not guilty.

hairperson of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhanna Litvina thinks that it is essential because the governmental mass media have already started discrediting the convicted head of “Viasna”.
Zhanna Litvina: “Notable political trials are often accompanied by discredit campaigns and people taking part in the political processes get defamed. Ales Byalyatski’s reputation and people’s comprehension of what is going on in our country depend on presenting the true information”. 

It has been highlighted that only Belarusian citizens could donate in this programme. Foreigners’ money is considered to be humanitarian aid and numerous permissions are required in order to use the money.

Photo by: Zmitser Lukashuk