Epress.am News from Armenia
The Helsinki Association for Human Rights and supporters gathered outside the Belarusian Embassy in Yerevan on Monday to protest the Aug. 4 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 on allegations of large-scale tax evasion.
“The accusation that he is being charged with does not correspond to the truth. He is a well-known human rights defender and currently, 900 signatures have been gathered worldwide, guaranteeing that Ales Belyatsky will be come forth but now we are demanding for changing his precautionary measure,” Helsinki Association President Mikhail Danielyan told Epress.am.
Armenian human rights activists today submitted a letter with signatures to the embassy.
“The Belarus authorities won’t respond to this letter; thus, proving their trampling of democratic values, though there is a procedure in the world to receiving and responding to letters. But, in any case, we will fight for the Belarusian people to live freely and independently,” human rights activist Artak Zeynalyan told Epress.am.
Armenian activists join prominent international groups such as Human Rights Watch in condemning the Belarusian authorities decision, stating that the criminal investigation against Belyatsky is politically motivated and asking for his unconditional release.
