Imprisoned Nobel Prize winner from Belarus should have been released in prisoner exchange, say supporters
VILNIUS: Supporters of imprisoned Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Byaljatski say the human rights activist was due to take part in the largest prisoner exchange between East and West since the Cold War on Thursday.
Allies of Byalyatsky and other imprisoned Belarusians are disappointed that they were not included in the exchange. Eight Russians, including a convicted murderer, were exchanged for 16 inmates in Russian and Belarusian prisons, many of them dissidents.
Some of the Russian dissidents released in the exchange, including opposition activist Ilya Yashin, expressed anger or reservations on Friday about being deported from their country against their will.
Byaliatsky, 61, is serving a ten-year prison sentence for funding anti-government protests. His trial in 2023 was condemned by the US and European Union as a “sham trial.” In 2022 – a year after his arrest – he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
“When we heard that the deal was imminent, we hoped that one of the political prisoners in Belarus would take part in it. First and foremost, of course, the imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner,” said Alena Masliukova, a member of Viasna, the human rights organization founded by Byaljatsky.
“It was a total disappointment and we still haven’t gotten over it,” said Masliukova, who now lives in exile in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
Among those released as part of this week's exchange is German citizen Rico Krieger. He had been sentenced to death for terrorism in Belarus, a close ally of Russia. According to Viasna, 1,390 people are in prison there for political reasons – many of them in connection with the mass protests four years ago.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, faced major protests following the controversial 2020 presidential election – the biggest challenge to his rule.
He has long denied allegations of human rights violations.
Viasna said activists are still being dragged to court for their role in the protests, and Masliukova said political prisoners face harsh conditions in prison.
“They are held in cold cells, without contact with relatives. They leave prison with health problems,” she said.
Byaliatsky voluntarily returned to Belarus from exile in 2021, despite knowing he would face arrest. Supporters said this meant he might not be willing to leave the country again, a process in which the prisoner is legally obliged to ask for a pardon.
“I know his character and I am sure that he would never ask Lukashenko for a pardon,” said Siarhei Sys, a longtime friend. “I don't know what will happen in five years… It all depends on his health.”
