Lithuanian human rights activist Bialiatski is sentenced to 1996 in prison . The Belarusian foreign minister condemns his conviction . Defense attorneys said Bialiatski used the money from his accounts in Lithuania and Poland to support his human rights group -- not for personal income , the group said . Ales Bialiatski is convicted of large-scale tax evasion . Human Rights Watch urges the appellate court to overturn the conviction .
Lithuanian human rights activist Bialiatski is sentenced to 1996 in prison . The Belarusian foreign minister condemns his conviction . Ales Bialiatski is convicted of large-scale tax evasion . Human Rights Watch urges the appellate court to overturn the conviction .