Viasna human rights centre to be evicted from office

• 28.05.2012, 16:58

(updated) Bailiffs came to evict human rights activists from their office, but saw journalists and left.

About 15 human rights activists and journalists came to Viasna office after information appeared bailiffs would evict Viasna staff, Euroradio reports. Later, two people, apparently bailiffs, appeared near the building. The saw journalists and did not dare to enter. Ales Byalyatski's wife Natallya Pinchuk waited for bailiffs until 6 pm and then left the office. Eviction cannot be carried out in her absence.

We remind since 2000, Viasna office has been located in the flat belonging to arrested human rights activist Ales Byalyatski, who was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison and confiscation of property for alleged tax fraud.

Human rights activists paid $90,000 of the “damage” caused by Byalyatski. They hoped the measure would reduce a prison term for the human rights defenders and allow to keep the office. But the authorities refused to make concessions after the money had been paid.