On 21 March at the University of Warsaw there was a gathering entitled Aleś Bialacki – Belarusian warrior for freedom and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize organized by the Chair of Belarusian Studies of the University of Warsaw. The event was devoted to the activities of Alesia Białacki, a Belarusian social activist, a human rights defender, a political prisoner, a Nobel Peace Prize winner from 2022. During the meeting, Natalia Pinczuk, Nobeli's spouse, appeared.
– Universities around the planet are temples of freedom, tolerance and openness, where the most crucial is man. The University of Warsaw is an open European university. Belarus and its people are close to us and can number on our support," said Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw.
During the meeting, a figure of Alesia Białacki, a Belarusian social activist, a human rights defender, political prisoner, manager of the Spring Human Rights Centre, Vice-President of the global Federation of Human Rights, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize of 2022 was presented. In the judgement of the court declared on 3 March, Aleś Bialacki was sentenced to 10 years of maximum safety penal colony. He is the 3rd in the past of the Nobel Peace Prize winner who is in prison.
The gathering besides presented the speech of Aleś Bialacki on 28 April 2021, which he gave a fewer months before his arrest, in connection with the award by the Organisation for safety and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of the "Democracy Defender" award. As Aleś Bialacki emphasized in his speech: – There must be a dialog for national unification.
During the meeting, Natalia Pinczuk, Nobeli's spouse, appeared.
– It is simply a large honour for us to have Natalia Pinczuk here. A modest person, but a large spirit, head and character, said Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak.
She took part in the gathering Natalia Pinczuk in her speech thanked the authorities and communities of the University of Warsaw for organising the event and the chance to express herself in defence of Ales Bialacki: – In the past of our common civilization erstwhile there was a noble slogan “For your freedom and ours!” which is now valid again. Alesia and his friends were held in court in an iron cage and handcuffs due to the fact that people fighting for freedom, the most dangerous, are for those who wield power in Belarus. Hundreds of thousands of citizens were forced to leave the country simply due to the fact that they wanted to live in a democratic country. In fact, now all Belarus is behind bars.
– But you are the bearer of the thought of peace, for which you have been honored by the global community. In his last speech in court, he mentioned the request for national reconciliation in Belarus. But just future Belarus. He turned not to the usurper, but to the obedient performers of his will to refrain. He besides stated that the immediate release of political prisoners was a prerequisite for possible dialogue. We want to return to independent, democratic Belarus," said Natalia Pinczuk.
The gathering besides read fragments of Alesia Białacki's publication in Polish translation. The gathering was attended by Belarusian political and social activists and human rights defenders. The event was accompanied by a performance of Belarusian musicians.
The gathering entitled “Aleś Bialacki – Belarusian freedom fighter and Nobel Peace Prize winner 2022” was held on 21 March in the building of the Departments of Applied Linguistics and Neophilology at 55 Dobrya Street. The event under the patronage of prof. Alojze Z. Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw was led by prof. Radosław Kaleta, Head of the Department of Belarusian Studies of the University of Warsaw.
