President of the FIDH was not allowed to Byalyatski's trial

On the eve of Ales Byalyatski's trial the president of the International Federation for Human Rights was not allowed to come in Minsk. Belarusian Embassy in Paris refused to give Souhayr Belhassen visa to Belarus, referring the undesirability of her presence in Minsk.

Souhayr Belhassen, along with other human rights defenders had intended to observe the upcoming start of the criminal process in Wednesday against the head of "Viasna" human rights center Ales Byalyatski. According to the human rights defender Tatyana Ravyaka, two Swedish lawyers and two representatives of Norway are also forbidden to observe the trial of the head of "Viasna":

- Visa was refused to the president of the International Federation for Human Rights Souhayr Belhassen, whom we were waiting for and who really wanted to participate in this process. Two our colleagues from Norway Ana Bonde and Daiva Petkevichyute representing the Human Rights House Foundation, were denied too. We would like them to be at the trial indeed. We expect a lot of attention from our colleagues, and international organizations to the case of Ales and the process.

Vice President of International Federation of Human Rights Ales Byalyatski was detained by the Department of Financial Investigation of State Control Committee of Belarus in early August.

The Head Human Rights Center "Viasna" is accused of tax evasion on the money aimed to help victims of police repressions after December 19. Trial against the lawyer to start in Minsk tomorrow. Under the Criminal Code, Ales Byalyatski faces up to seven years in prison.