September 25, Pozirk. A strategy combining dialogue with pressure may help secure the release of jailed Belarusian activists, Alaksandar Dabravolski, senior political aide to Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, has told journalists.
He made this remark as the Lithuanian Seimas prepared to open a photo exhibition marking the 63rd birthday of jailed Belarusian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aleś Bialacki.
“If dictators only understand the language of force, then it is both possible and necessary to engage with them, while simultaneously applying strong pressure. Dialogue and pressure must go hand in hand,” Dabravolski stressed, commenting on efforts to secure Bialacki’s release.
“Pressure can take many forms, but dictatorships and dictators need to understand that their lives will become difficult if they continue to act with impunity and violate human rights,” the politician added, noting that rights abuses must be punished.
Viasna Human Rights Center’s head Bialacki, his associates Valancin Stefanovič and Uładzimir Łabkovič have been held behind bars in Belarus since July 2021. In March 2023, they were sentenced to 10, nine and seven years, respectively, on charges widely seen as politically motivated.
In 2022, Bialacki was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (he shares the award with human rights organizations Memorial, Russia, and Center for Civil Liberties, Ukraine).
