On August 9, Belarusians around the world marked 5 years since the peaceful protests against dictatorship. And on this day, Belarusians were not alone, receiving support from heads of state and leading global politicians, foreign ministries of multiple countries, and European institutions.
Politicians and political bodies who supported Belarusians’ aspiration for democratic change include:
“We jointly call for their immediate and unconditional release and urge the Belarusian authorities to end their campaign of repression.”
🇺🇸 United States’ Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission)
“Urge Minsk to act swiftly to free all political prisoners and cease using its judicial system as a tool of repression.”
🇱🇻 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
“Latvia stands by people of Belarus on their path towards democracy and demands immediate release of all 1180 political prisoners.”
🇷🇴 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania
“Romania joins the international calls for the immediate & unconditional release of all political prisoners and for holding free elections in Belarus.”
🇦🇹 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria
“Over 1,100 political prisoners remain in prison. They must be released immediately!”
🇩🇰 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
“All political prisoners in Belarus must be released.”
🇩🇪 German Federal Foreign Office
“The regime must release all political prisoners.”
🇳🇴 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway
“Norway stands firm in its support for a free, democratic, and independent Belarus.”
🇸🇪 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden
“A future democratic Belarus has a place in the European family.”
🇱🇺 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg
“We mark five years since the Belarusian people rose up against dictatorship and stood united in a peaceful revolution for dignity, freedom, and democracy.”
🇮🇸 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland
“Brutal repression must end so a free, independent & democratic Belarus can prevail.”
🇮🇪 Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland
“Ireland stands with EU in supporting a free and democratic future for Belarus.”
🇨🇿 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
🇵🇱 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland
“Belarus belongs to the European family of nations, and its path to lasting development and prosperity leads primarily through Europe.”
🇸🇮 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia
“Slovenia supports people of Belarus as they continue aspiring for freedom, justice and democratic future.”
🇨🇿 Senate of the Czech Republic
“It is the duty of free democratic countries to help and support the return of freedom and democracy.”
🇪🇪 Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
“Belarusians must be freed from fear & repression & their country must become part of the family of democratic European nations.”
🇫🇮 Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
“We reaffirm our support for a free and democratic Belarus.”
🇳🇱 Caspar Veldkamp, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
“Five years ago, Belarusians massively took to the streets to demand freedom and democracy. Their struggle continues to this day.”
🇱🇹 Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
“That monumental civil awakening, which nearly toppled Lukashenka’s regime, serves as a vivid reminder of a democratic Belarus now struggling under totalitarian rule.”
🇪🇺 NATO Parliamentary Assembly
“The NATO Parliamentary Assembly will never waiver in standing firmly with those striving for a free, sovereign, and democratic Belarus.”
🇪🇺 European Conservatives and Reformists Group
“Today we stand with Belarus and its citizens — their dream of freedom will never die.”
🇪🇺 Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
“We will not stop until every one of the more than 1,000 political prisoners is freed. Until the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people are fulfilled.”
🇪🇺 Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
“Europe stands with the people of Belarus. Five years ago, their voice was stolen. Their call for freedom was met with persecution. But their fight — our fight — for democracy remains strong. The world will not look away.”
🇺🇸 Steve Cohen, US Congressman
🇬🇪 Helen Khoshtaria, political analyst from Georgia
“We, Georgians and Belarusians alike, are victims of the Russian Empire, and we are fighting together to get rid of its yoke.”
“Today, five years ago, the elections in #Belarus were rigged. And Germany no longer considers it reasonable to issue humanitarian visas to those politically persecuted. This endangers lives!”
🇪🇺 European Commission’s Directorate-General for EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood
“We have stood with you ever since and will continue to support you as you strive for a free and democratic future.”
🇪🇺 Marta Kos, EU Commissioner; Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative
“We call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release all political prisoners, end the repression, and engage in an inclusive national dialogue.”
🇪🇺 EUvsDisinfo
“Lukashenka’s ongoing ‘war on Belarusians’ is carried out through the persecution of 2020 protesters, enhancement of control of society through fear and ‘silent terror’, and a drift towards a totalitarian regime.”
“Five years ago, the people of #Belarus called for free elections and fundamental rights. Their courage remains an inspiration.”
🇫🇷 Frédéric Petit, Member of the French National Assembly
“I remember those following weeks. I remember those who suffered and those who had to go.”
“Lukashenka is not and has never been a legitimate president. Both the pseudo-elections in 2020 and in 2025 are farces that have violated all international norms.”
“It is time to move from words of solidarity to acts of solidarity!”
“Thank you Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski for putting the spotlight on Iryna Takarchuk, punished because she supported her own imprisoned daughter Olga Takarchuk and other political prisoners.”
“On 9 August 2020, the Belarusian people went to the polls. They voted for change. They voted out the dictatorship. They voted for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. But Alexander Lukashenko refused to let go of power — and responded with electoral fraud, violence, and terror.”
🇮🇹 Pina Picierno, Vice-President of the European Parliament
“Today we stand alongside Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and all opposition forces: Belarus deserves to be free, democratic, and master of its own destiny.”
“The sacrifice it has endured is huge but all dictatorships eventually end. One day, Belarus will be the ❤️ of Europe, where it belongs.”
🇵🇱 Andrzej Halicki, Polish MEP
“Today, on the anniversary of the protests, all of democratic Belarus gathers in Warsaw, and the Palace of Culture shines in white-red-white ⚪️🔴⚪️. We chant together with you, just like 5 years ago: Minsk–Warsaw – a common cause ❕❗️❕”
🇦🇹 Helmut Brandstätter, Austrian MEP
“Today, on August 9, it has been five years since the election in Belarus, when Lukashenka stole the victory.”
🇱🇹 Gitanas Nausėda, President of Lithuania
“The Belarusian people deserve to live in freedom!”
🇩🇪 Britta Haßelmann, German MP
“Freedom for all political prisoners there.”
🇩🇪 Katrin Göring-Eckardt, Vice-President of the German Bundestag
“Freedom for Ales – and for all political prisoners in Belarus!”
“Belarus will one day be a free, European democracy. Sweden stands by you, always.”
“Europe must keep pressure high, hope alive, and ensure no other country—be it Georgia, Moldova or beyond—faces the same fate.”
“We think of Maria, Marfa, Ales, Ihar, and the other more than 1,100 political prisoners in Belarus.”
Media coverage was released by:
🇩🇪 Tagesschau
🇵🇱 Rzeczpospolita
🇺🇦 Kyiv Post
🇪🇪 Baltic Times
🇺🇸 Reuters
🇵🇱 TVP World
🇺🇸 Radio Free Europe
