The Second Congress on Political Prisoners in Belarus #WithoutJustCause started in Warsaw. Participants, including international partners, discussed how joint efforts inside the country and at the international level can help achieve the release of prisoners and put an end to repression. Diplomats from the United States, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada took part in the event.
Participant initiatives included prison clothing brought by former political prisoner Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, portraits of political prisoners created by artist Xisha Aniolava (Ksenija Anhielava), and photographic portraits of those who died in detention or after their release.
The Secretary-General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Berit Lindeman, also joined the discussions, speaking about the International Humanitarian Fund and answering participants’ questions.
Day Two of the Congress will take place in Poznań on Sunday, September 28, and will feature presentations of initiatives and associations of political prisoners, as well as fishbowl discussions.
See the full program of the Congress on the website.
