Should have been released in a prison exchange, supporters said
VILNIUS: Supporters of Belarusian Nobel peace laureate Ales Bialiatski said he should have been included in the biggest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War on Thursday.
Bialiatski's allies and other Belarusian prisoners are disappointed that they were not included in the exchange, in which eight Russians, including a convicted murderer, were exchanged for 16 prisoners in Russian and Belarusian prisons. , many of them are opponents.
Some of the Russian dissidents freed in the exchange, including opposition activist Ilya Yashin, expressed anger or reservations on Friday that they had been forced out of their country against their will.
Bialiatski, 61, who is serving a 10-year sentence for financing anti-government protests after a 2023 trial condemned by the United States and the European Union as “rigged,” won the Nobel Prize for peace in 2022 — a year after he received it. arrest.
“When we heard that the deal was close, we hoped that someone from the Belarusian political prisoners would be part of it. First of all, of course, the imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner,” said Alena Masliukova, a member of Viasna — a human rights organization founded by Bialiatski.
“It was a complete disappointment, and we still haven't gotten over it,” said Masliukova, who now lives in exile in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.
Among those freed in this week's exchange is German national Rico Krieger who was sentenced to death on terrorism charges in Belarus, a close ally of Russia that — according to Viasna — 1,390 people. are imprisoned for political reasons—many linked to the four mass protests. years ago.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, faces major protests after a disputed 2020 presidential election — the biggest challenge to his rule.
He has long denied allegations of human rights abuses.
Viasna said activists were still being brought to justice for their role in the protests, and Masliukova said political prisoners faced harsh conditions in prison.
“They are kept in cold cells, without contact with their relatives. They came out of prison in poor health,” he said.
Bialiatski voluntarily returned from exile to Belarus in 2021 despite knowing he could face arrest, which supporters say means he may not be ready to leave the country again, a step that would require it is normal for prisoners to ask for forgiveness.
“I know his character and I am sure that there is no way to ask for forgiveness from Lukashenko,” said Siarhei Sys, a longtime friend. “I don't know what will happen in five years … It all depends on the state of his health.”
