Belarus has been under increasing criticism for what many see as a rapid decline of human rights in the Eastern European nation. In January, internet restrictions were put in place [JURIST report], creating several limitations on Internet access. JURIST Guest Columnist Johann Bihr, Director of the Press Desk for Europe and Central Asia at Reporters Without Borders [advocacy website] argued [JURIST comment] that the law not only limits the online freedoms of individuals, but also creates harsh penalties for Internet providers, all in a government effort to exert more control over citizens. Days before, US President Barack Obama signed the Belarus Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2011 [JURIST report], which imposed new sanctions on Belarus. The new sanctions required the US to investigate Belarus' arms deals and its possible censorship of the Internet, as well as denying visas to a list of Belarusian officials. In November a Belarus court convicted [JURIST report] human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, the president of Viasana and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) [advocacy websites], of tax evasion, sentencing him to a four-and-a-half-year prison term amid international criticism.