Belarusian activist says Václav Havel Human Rights Prize contributed to his release

Belarusian political activist Ales Belyatsky has told the Czech News Agency that he believed that his winning the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize in 2013 contributed to his release from prison three months ago. But the dissident added that the foremost importance of the prize was that the message sent to the authoritarian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko. Both, to stop persecuting activists and as signal to Belarusian society that Europe was on its side. Mr Belyatsky said the Czech Republic is still considered a critic of Lukashenko´s government and the Belarusian opposition and nongovernmental organisations felt support. Mr Belyatsky is taking part in a conference organised by the Václav Havel Library in Prague in honour of the fresh laureate of the Havel prize, Azeri human rights activist Anar Mammadli, currently in prison for his work.

Author: Jan Velinger