Ales Viktaravich Bialiatski is a Belarusian human rights defender, pro-democracy activist, and writer. He is chair of the Viasna Human Rights Centre. He was held as a prisoner of conscience. An activist for Belarusian independence and democracy since the early 1980s, Bialiatski is a founding member of Viasna and the Belarusian Popular Front, serving as leader of the latter from 1996 to 1999. He is also a member of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition. He has been called "a pillar of the human rights movement in Eastern Europe" by The New York Times, and recognised as a prominent pro-democracy activist in Belarus. The Nobel Peace Prize 2022, announced October 7, 2022. Ales Bialiatski, Memorial, and Center for Civil Liberties, “The Peace Prize laureates represent civil society in their home countries. They have for many years promoted the right to criticise power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens. They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy.”. Ales Bialiatski: born 1962, Vyartsilya, Karelia, Russia. Wiki link Wiki link Wiki link Data: the Nobel Foundation (CC0).