Today, February 26, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met in Warsaw with representatives of organizations that provide assistance to political prisoners.
Participants included representatives of the following organizations and initiatives:
- Alana Gebremariam and Volha Filatchankava (Association of Women Political Prisoners);
- Alesia Bunevich and Hanna Fedaronak (Prytuliaj Miane Foundation);
- Yauheniya Belkina and Aryna Valasach (Volunteer Service of the Viasna Human Rights Centre);
- Ksenia Maliukova and Tatsiana Khomich (Politzek.me);
- Iryna Khalopitsa (National Anti-Crisis Management);
- Palina Brodzik (Free Belarus Center);
- Nasta Bazar and Helena Niedźwiecka (Belarusian Solidarity Center);
- Anna Matsiyeuskaya (Partyzanka);
- Veranika Stankevich (Volnyja);
- Volha Zazulinskaya (Representative for Social Policy of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus);
- Viachaslau Zhukau and Antanina Kanavalava (A Country to Live In Foundation);
- Maksim Hun (Association of Political Prisoners of Belarus).
The purpose of the meeting was to coordinate cooperation among the organizations.
Participants discussed the state of funding for emergency and long-term support, issues related to departure from Belarus, legal stay problems, and the risk of renewed persecution of political prisoners, available housing resources, and medical and psychological rehabilitation for those released.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the organizations for their daily work and solidarity, emphasizing that the release and rehabilitation of political prisoners remains an unconditional priority for her Office:
“I am grateful to every organization and every volunteer for the work you do every day. The release and rehabilitation of political prisoners is our unconditional priority. Our task is to be prepared for the mass release of political prisoners, not reactively but systematically. We need coordination, trust, and joint planning to ensure timely, effective support. That is why today’s meeting is an important step toward more coordinated cooperation in support of political prisoners and their families”.
