Belarusian human rights activist and last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner Alesi Byaljacki has been sentenced by a court to 10 years in prison.

International criticism is likely to increase for the Lukashenko administration, which is stepping up its crackdown on human rights activists.

Belarusian human rights activist Mr. Byaryatski was awarded last year's Nobel Peace Prize with Ukrainian and Russian human rights groups for denouncing the reality of human rights violations by the Lukashenko regime and working on awareness campaigns about human rights.



However, after the presidential election three years ago, Mr. Byaljaczki was detained and imprisoned in the regime's intensifying crackdown, and was indicted in November last year for involving citizens in activities that disrupted public order. rice field.



Belarus' state news agency said on the 3rd that a court in the capital Minsk had sentenced Mr. Byalyatski to 10 years in prison.



The human rights group Spring, founded by Mr. Byaljacski, also confirmed the ruling.



Since Mr. Byaljaczki was in prison, he was unable to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony held in Norway in December last year. Thousands of people are imprisoned for political reasons."

Both win Nobel Peace Prize Statement by Russian human rights group

Regarding the ruling, the Russian human rights group "Memorial", which won the Nobel Peace Prize last year together with Mr. Byalyatsky, issued a statement on the 3rd, saying, "This ruling is a blatant retaliation for human rights activities carried out against the Lukashenko administration. We demand the release of Mr. Byalyatzki and others, and express our support and solidarity with them.”

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights “Stop Repression and Release”

“The lack of fair trial procedures and access to an independent judiciary in Belarus makes it difficult for human rights defenders to engage in legitimate activities,” Shamdasani, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said at a press conference in Geneva on Thursday. I am deeply concerned that I am at risk of criminal prosecution."



He also called for the regime to stop cracking down on human rights activists and release all those arbitrarily detained.