25 November 2011, 22:00
Armenia hosts rally in support of human rights defender convicted in Belarus
In Yerevan, NGOs' representatives held a rally in support of Ales Bialiatski, the head of the Human Rights Centre "Viasna" (Spring), who had been sentenced to imprisonment by the Belarusian authorities.
Representatives of the NGOs the Armenian Helsinki Association, the "Wives of Political Prisoners," the "Law and Order", and the "Sotsioskop" gathered in front of the Embassy of Belarus with the posters reading: "Freedom to prisoners of conscience", "Freedom to Ales", "For our and your freedom". The participants of the rally handed a letter to the Ambassador of Belarus demanding to release Ales Bialiatski and stop criminal prosecution against political and public figures.
"We have many friends in Belarus among ordinary citizens who are in trouble in prison, and our duty is to protect them," said Melissa Brown, the wife of former political prisoner Alik Arzumanyan, who participated in the today's action.
According to Mikael Danielyan, Chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Association, the rally in support of Ales Bialiatski was held in Yerevan for the second time – the first one was held on September 6.
"We should continue our struggle. Ales is our friend and colleague. We are to support him. And I'm sure that tomorrow, if we are in Ales' situation, other human rights defenders will go out and support us," Mikael Danielyan has emphasized.
Author: Armine Martirosyan Source: CK correspondent
