“Be strong!”: Ales Bialiatski stands with Nasrin Sotoudeh after her arrest by Iran

Belarusian Laureate Ales Bialiatski has spoken out in support of fellow Laureate Nasrin Sotoudeh, detained by Iranian authorities earlier this month. His message was direct: the international civil society stands with her and the Iranian people.

The statement carries particular weight as Bialiatski himself was released from a Belarusian prison just months ago.

“Dear Nasrin, we both were in prison 10 years ago,” Bialiatski said speaking in Stockholm.

“Now I am out, right before your new arrest. I think of your fight, of your strength, and I admire you. Don’t give up! We will fight for you and your people. Be strong!”

This is not the first time that Bialiatski has sent a message of solidarity to Sotoudeh: he addressed part of his Right Livelihood Award acceptance speech to her in 2020, when he was free and she had just been taken back to prison.

In the years since, Sotoudeh was in and out of prison, most recently released on medical furlough before her arrest. Bialiatski, who received the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, was arrested in July 2021 and remained behind bars until December 2025.

Right Livelihood has repeatedly called for the release of both Laureates.