The Third Congress on Political Prisoners in Belarus #WithoutJustCause has opened in Vilnius, bringing together former political prisoners, relatives of detainees, human rights defenders, diplomats, journalists, representatives of civic initiatives, and international partners to discuss methods of human rights work and seek new ways to support political prisoners.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya delivered opening remarks. She stressed that the release of hundreds of political prisoners became possible thanks to the solidarity of Belarusians, the work of human rights defenders, and international pressure.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya thanked the United States, the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland for supporting political prisoners in Belarus and their families.
She also expressed gratitude to US diplomats for their leadership in diplomatic efforts to secure the release of detainees; to the Viasna Human Rights Center and the Barys Zvozskau Human Rights House; to the International Humanitarian Fund; to Libereco and Freedom House; as well as to volunteers, lawyers, psychologists, and initiatives supporting repressed and released Belarusians.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya highlighted the role of Kryścina Šyjanok and the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic and thanked the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung for supporting the event and helping draw international attention to the issue of political prisoners in Belarus.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya reminded the audience about those who remain behind bars and called for maintaining international pressure on the regime and supporting the families of political prisoners. She noted that even after release, people continue to need rehabilitation, assistance, and solidarity.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The very fact that political prisoners have begun to regain their freedom is our great shared achievement. Political prisoners are not abstract numbers in Instagram posts or Facebook updates. They are thousands of personal stories, dreams, and hopes. The regime is trying to erase them. We need to preserve the stories, faces, and voices”.
