Ales Bialiatski celebrated another “anniversary” in prison

The human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, who is now in a penal colony sent a letter to his colleague Valiantsin Stefanovich on 10 October.

- I Congratulated Ales on his 50-anniversary and now he responded shortly, - Valiantsin Stefanovich tells Narodnaya Volia. – He makes jokes that he celebrated another anniversary in the colony – quarter of the term he was sentenced to. He said that in seven months in imprisonment he got already seven punishments, which gave him a status of a malicious violator of the prison’s regime. Although it didn’t went as far as getting to a penalty cell. Probably, the visit of the Pope’s representative to the colony had its effect.

We would remind that the other day it became known that Ales Bialiatski is short-listed for the Sakharov award. Among the finalists are also the punk-band Pussy Riot and two Iranians: human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh and a film director Jafar Panahi.

The winner of the prize will be selected on 26 October at a meeting of the chairmen of the political fractions of the European Parliament.