Belarusian Nobel Laureate and Activists Sentenced in Minsk Case
In Minsk, a court in Leninsky District handed down prison terms this Friday to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and several of his associates. Bialiatski received a 10-year sentence on charges that included smuggling, with prosecutors tying the case to a broader network linked to the NGO Viasna. The verdict marks a dramatic escalation in a high-profile political case that has drawn international attention to human rights work inside Belarus.
Three more activists were also convicted in connection with the same case. BelTA, the state news agency, identified the defendants as Valiantsin Stefanovich, who has served as the coordinator of the free elections campaign; Vladimir Labkovich; and Dimitri Soloviov. The court announced that Stefanovich was sentenced to nine years, Labkovich to seven years, and Soloviov to eight years, with Soloviov tried in absentia. The sentences span a period of events between 2013 and 2020, during which prosecutors allege a network operated to profit from the work of Viasna and its associates, extracting more than 800,000 Belarusian rubles in unlawful gains, equivalent to roughly 350,000 euros at the time.
Investigators stated that the group did not register the organization with the treasury nor submit the required documentation to the authorities. As a result, they were accused of smuggling about 113,000 Belarusian rubles, around 43,000 euros. While the authorities presented their case in detail, not all of the defendants admitted to the charges. The trial and its outcomes have intensified debate over civic activism and the space available for non-governmental organizations in Belarus.
Bialiatski, along with partners associated with Memorial in Russia and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2022. This case underscores the ongoing pressure facing rights groups in the region and has positioned Bialiatski as a focal point in international discussions about democratic governance, civil society, and the protection of human rights in Belarus. The Belarusian government responded to the Nobel recognition with strong criticism, and officials publicly questioned the awarding body’s decision, asserting that such recognitions are inconsistent with the country’s governance and public order. The exchange touched off a broader conversation about the role of Nobel winners who operate under political duress and the implications for international humanitarian recognition in troubled political environments.