The real reason Ales Bialiatski is in jail in Belarus is because he stands up for human rights and against Lukashenka's dictatorial regime.
The trial is a complete sham, but in case you're interested, the charges against him relate to unfounded and unproven accusations of smuggling in cash from abroad to fund his Viasna human rights organisation. A charge which he is likely to receive a 12 year sentence for.

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

"In Belarus, the Lieninski District Court of Minsk started to hear the closing arguments in Viasna trial. The prosecution is seeking to sentence the Nobel Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski to 12 years in a penal colony."

#ZhiyeBelarus
#FreeAlesBialiatski

https://spring96.org/en/news/110710?s=09

In Belarus, thousands of human rights activists called for freedom from political oppression. They were locked up in jail.

Ales Bialiatski, human rights defender, went to court to represent the political activists.
He was locked up in jail.

Viatel Brahinets, human rights lawyer, went to court to represent Ales Bialiatski.
He was locked up in jail.

#ZhiyeBelarus
#FreeAlesBialiatski
#FreeViatelBrahinets

https://spring96.org/en/news/110623?s=09

"Let me repeat, I don’t expect any fair court decision; this show will end up with a more or less tough sentence. However, everyone should remember that political persecution in its today’s scope and form is a crime against humanity."

Pavel Sapelka,
Lawyer representing Ales Bialiatski,
Belarus.

#ZhiyeBelarus
#FreeAlesBialiatski

"This is a crackdown on human rights defenders in the guise of justice; however, a mere semblance of judicial procedure does not make it justice. It makes no difference that this crackdown occurs in a courtroom and is carried out by a person in a judicial robe."

Patel Sapelka,
Lawyer for Ales Bialiatski,
Belarus.

#ZhiyeBelarus
#FreeAlesBialiatski

https://spring96.org/en/news/110428?s=09

In Belarus, thousands of people tried to protest against their dictatorial government.
They were thrown in jail.

Ales Bialiatski, human rights activist, tried to help the protestors.
He was thrown in jail.

Yekaterina Yanshina, journalist, went to court to report on his trial.
She was thrown in jail.

#ZhiyeBelarus
#FreeAlesBialiatski
#FreeYekaterinaYanshina

https://spring96.org/en/news/110376?s=09

"An anecdotal conversation occurred today between Ales Bialiatski and prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate suggested swapping writing utensils because the prosecutor and the defendant are in unequal conditions: the latter has a laptop and a pen for his disposal while the human rights defender only has a ballpoint pen refill."

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

"The trial over Viasna leadership continues in the Lieninski District court of Minsk. Among the defendants is Nobel Peace Prize 2022 laureate Ales Bialiatski. On January 10, the third court session was held."

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

https://spring96.org/en/news/110391?s=09

"We are gravely concerned by the trial of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski which started in Belarus on Thursday. Bialiatski faces up to 12 years in jail. Two other representatives of his Viasna Human Rights Center are also facing prison sentences.

We call for the charges against them to be dropped, and their immediate release from detention."

Jeremy Lawrence,
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2023/01/grave-concern-trials-belarus

"I keep thinking of Ales Bialiatski's Nobel Lecture - it begins: "It just so happens that people who value freedom the most are often deprived of it." Ales said that the entirety of Belarus is in a prison. But when our minds are free, no handcuffs can remove our freedom."

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

"When will you be released? – they asked me.
– I am already free, in my soul, was my reply.

My free soul hovers over the dungeon and over the maple leaf outlines of Belarus.

I look inside myself, and my ideals have not changed, have not lost their value, have not faded. They are always with me, and I guard them as best I can. They are like cast from gold, immune from rusting."

Ales Bialiatski

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

This is the first photo of Ales Bialiatski as a Nobel Peace prize laureate. The second Belarusian in history to be awarded the Nobel Prize is now on trial at Lukashenka's court.

A historical photo and the historical scale of embarrassment to all these jailers and judges.

(Via. Franak Viacorka)

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

"Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Byalyatski went on trial in Belarus on Thursday, facing up to 12 years in jail in a case his allies see as political retribution for his rights work.

The 60-year-old, who co-founded the Viasna human rights group, is one of the most prominent of hundreds of Belarusians who were jailed during a violent crackdown on anti-government protests that erupted in the summer of 2020."

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-begin-trial-nobel-prize-winning-rights-defender-2023-01-05/

"The mural of Ales Bialiatski is now in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Vilnius. Every visitor of the Embassy should be reminded – Lukashenka‘s regime jailed the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and more than 1400 of the brightest Belarusians as political prisoners."

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Lithuania

#FreeThemAll
#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

If you don't know who Ales Bialiatski is, what planet are you on?

Is it the one where there are so many dictatorial governments and human rights abuses are so widespread and happening every single day that it's almost impossible to keep up with them all?

If so, then it's definitely worth reading the speech on the post above. It will tell you a lot very quickly about Ales Bialiatski and what's happening in Belarus.

#ZhiyeBelarus
#FreeAlesBialiatski

"I want to repeat for everyone: “Do not be afraid!”

These were the words that Pope John Paul II said in the 1980s when he came to communist Poland. He didn’t say anything else then, but it was enough. I believe because I know that spring always comes after winter."

Ales Bialiatski,
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

"I believe because I know that the night ends and then the morning comes with light. I know that what pushes us forward tirelessly is hope and a dream."

Ales Bialiatski,
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech.

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

Here is the link to the full acceptance speech from Ales Bialiatski on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

The speech was delivered on his behalf by his wife as Ales is currently imprisoned in Belarus. He is one of thousands of Belarusian political prisoners detained without trial. He became a political prisoner because of his work with Viasna Human Rights Group, whose main aim is to help political prisoners.

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2022/bialiatski/lecture/

'When will you be released?' - they asked me.
'I am already free, in my soul.' -was my reply.

My free soul hovers over the dungeon and over the maple leaf outlines of Belarus.I look inside myself, and my ideals have not changed, have not lost their value, have not faded. They are always with me, and I guard them as best I can. They are like cast from gold, immune from rusting."

Ales Bialiatski,
Nobel Prize Speech.

(Ales is currently imprisoned without trial in Belarus)

#FreeAlesBialiatski

"Goodness and truth must be able to protect themselves."

Ales Bialiatski,
Nobel Prize Winner.

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus