Background Alexander Bialiatski was born in
Vyartsilya, in today's
Karelia, Russia, to Belarusian parents. His father Viktar Bialiatski is a native of the
Rahačoŭ District, and his mother Nina comes from the
Naroŭlia District. In 1965, the family returned to Belarus to settle in
Svietlahorsk,
Gomel Region. Bialiatski is a scholar of
Belarusian literature In Belarus Bialiatski was Secretary of the
Belarusian Popular Front (1996–1999) and deputy chairman of the BPF (1999–2001). Bialiatski was chairman of the Working Group of the Assembly of Democratic NGOs (2000–2004). In 2007–2016, he was vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (
FIDH). Bialiatski is a member of the Union of Belarusian Writers (since 1995) and the Belarusian PEN-Centre (since 2009). The indictment was made possible by financial records released by prosecutors in
Lithuania and
Poland. On 24 October 2011, Bialiatski was sentenced to 4½ years in prison and confiscation of property. Bialiatski pleaded not guilty, saying that the money had been received on his bank accounts to cover Viasna's human rights activities.
Reaction Belarusian human rights activists, as well as the
European Union leaders, EU governments, and the
United States said that Bialiatski was a political prisoner, calling his sentencing politically motivated. They urged the Belarusian authorities to release the human rights activist. On 15 September 2011 a special resolution the
European Parliament called for Bialiatski's immediate release. The activist's release was also requested by EP President
Jerzy Buzek, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Catherine Ashton, OSCE Chairman
Eamon Gilmore, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus,
Miklós Haraszti. Several international human rights non-governmental organisations called for Bialiatski's "immediate and unconditional release". • On 11 August,
Amnesty International declared Bialiatski a
prisoner of conscience. • On 12 September, the
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) launched a campaign to advocate for Bialiatski's release and inform more generally about political prisoners in Belarus. • Tatsiana Reviaka, Bialiatski's colleague at
Viasna and the President of the Belarusian Human Rights House in
Vilnius, said that "the reason behind these charges is the fact that our organisation Viasna has been providing different assistance to victims of political repressions in
Belarus. • "Belyatsky's arrest is a clear case of retaliation against him and Viasna for their human rights work. It's the latest in a long series of efforts by the government to crush Belarus's civil society",
Human Rights Watch said in a statement. Bialiatski served his sentence in penal colony number 2 in the city of
Babruysk, working as a packer in a sewing shop. He was repeatedly punished by the prison administration for "violation of the prison rules", and was declared a "malicious offender", which prevented him from being amnestied in 2012 and deprived him of family visits and food parcels. During his time in prison, Bialiatski wrote many texts on literary topics, essays, memoirs, which were posted to his associates. An unprecedented campaign of international solidarity was launched during his imprisonment. Bialiatski was released from prison 20 months ahead of schedule on 21 June 2014 after spending 1,052 days of arbitrary detention in harsh conditions, including serving periods of solitary confinement. The date of Bialiatski's arrest, 4 August, is celebrated annually as the International Day of Solidarity with the Civil Society of Belarus. It was established in 2012 as a response to the activist's arrest.
Release in 2014 and arrest in 2021 Bialiatski was released on 21 June 2014. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus,
Miklós Haraszti welcomed his liberation. During the
2020 Belarusian protests, he became a member of the
Coordination Council of
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. On 14 July 2021, the Belarusian police searched Viasna's employees' homes around the country and raided the central office. Bialiatski and his colleagues Vladimir Stephanovich and Vladimir Labkovich were arrested. On 6 October 2021, Bialiatski was charged with tax evasion with a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison. As of 7 October 2022, he was still
in prison.
2023 trial and sentencing His trial alongside
Valentin Stefanovich and
Vladimir Labkovich started in January 2023.
Amnesty International mentioned that "[t]he trial against Ales Bialiatski and his fellow human rights defenders is a blatant act of injustice wherein the state is clearly seeking to enact revenge for their activism. In this shameful pretense of a trial, the defendants cannot even hope for a semblance of justice." On 3 March 2023, the Belarus judiciary convicted Bialiatski of smuggling and financing
political protests, as "actions grossly violating public order", and sentenced him to prison for 10 years.
Release Bialiatski was released and exiled to Lithuania on 13 December 2025, as part of a deal between the Lukashenko government and the
United States. ==International recognition==