Ales Bialiatski: Persecution of Elena Tonkacheva is explained by approaching presidential campaign

The head of the human rights center “Viasna” believes that the attack of the authorities on Elena Tonkacheva can only be stopped if the scandal passes on to the level of Belarus-EU relations.

Let us recall that Elena Tonkacheva, the head of the Legal Transformation Center “Lawtrend”, is deprived of the residence permit; the authorities are preparing to deport her from Belarus. The reason for these decisions lied in administrative offences in the form of minor speedings while driving registered by cameras. Elena Tonkacheva, who has been living in Belarus since 1985, but has Russian citizenship, is not going to comment upon the actions of the authorities until the process of communication with them on this situation is fully completed and final decisions are made.

“EuroBelarus” Information Service asked Ales Bialiatski, the head of the human rights center “Viasna”, to comment upon the situation that is happening with his colleague in human rights advocacy.

- Speeding is, of course, not a serious reason. Obviously, the reason for such actions of the authorities is absolutely different – civic and human rights activities of Elena Tonkacheva. Each year billions of such fines are imposed, with involvement of citizens with foreign passports as well, but it seems that the situation have never had such consequences. I think that it is explained by the approaching presidential campaign and the authorities are trying to weaken human rights movement. All the more that Elena and her organization “Lawtrend” have been actively speaking on the freedom of information in Belarus, have been analyzing Belarusan legislation; suffice it to say that the latest meeting with OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović on the issue of mass media took place in the office of organization headed by Elena Tonkacheva.

According to Ales Bialiatski, this civic activity “made Belarusan authorities very alert and that is why they employed such immoral arrangements, using absurd reasons”.

- They are trying to neutralize her and arrange it so that she would have no possibility to work in Belarus any longer. I see complete parallel with my story hear, as I believe that my arrest, was also related to the human rights activity during and after the 2010 election. It is clear that the authorities perceive human rights defenders as a risk group for them; it is typical open political persecution of Elena Tonkacheva by the Belarusan state. We strongly protest against it, we disagree with it; we think that it is absolutely different from the statements that the Belarusan government regularly makes for the West about the improvement of the situation in Belarus with human rights. They talk about improvement of situation and lack of violations and pressure on civil society, and at the same time drive out active human rights defenders to make their lawless life easier.

Ales Bialiatski assumes that the most effective way to stop the persecution of Elena Tonkacheva is to raise the problem to the international level, “as this is a violation of international responsibilities Belarus has in the sphere of human rights”.

- We will draw the attention of the international community to it; we will spread information in Belarus for people to know what Belarusan authorities do in relation to civic activists. This is a complicated situation; I think the authorities set a goal and will be trying to achieve this goal unless the scandal passes on to the level of Belarus-EU relations. In this case the situation might be changed, taking into account that now Belarusan authorities are inclined to activate the Western direction in their foreign politics.

Let us recall that the consideration of the issue regarding Elena Tonkacheva’s compulsory expulsion is assigned for 12 a.m. on November 5 in the Department of Internal Affairs in the administration of the Pershamaiski district of Minsk.