On November 12, the world marked the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus. November 12, 2020, was the day of the tragic death of Raman Bandarenka.
Dozens of politicians and organizations around the world expressed support for the people of Belarus, while Belarusians organized solidarity rallies in Belarus and abroad.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, released a statement recalling the protesters and political prisoners who “lost their lives at the hands of the regime as a result of ill-treatment, brutality and denial of medical care”.
He noted: “The European Union, together with its international partners, is leading efforts for accountability at the United Nations and through the International Accountability Platform for Belarus, an independent and impartial platform for the collection, verification and preservation of documentation and evidence of serious human rights violations perpetrated in Belarus during and after the August 2020 presidential election. The EU supports the Platform politically and financially”.
The High Commissioner also emphasized that “the EU will stand with the Belarusian people as long as it takes on their path to an independent, democratic and prosperous country as part of a peaceful Europe”.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly shared on Twitter: “We are inspired by the brave people of Belarus’ fight for democracy and humbled by their sacrifices. Our Assembly will continue to stand with Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya and all those fighting for democracy and freedom and against autocracy and repression”.
Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, tweeted: “On this Day of Solidarity with Belarus, I reiterate the Council of Europe’s support for Belarus’ democratic forces and for political prisoners fighting for freedom and justice”.
Peter Stano, Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, wrote: “On the International Day of Solidarity, the EU remembers Raman Bandarenka, condemns continued repression by the Lukashenka regime, calls for the release of political prisoners, supports people and their rights, and leads the efforts for accountability”.
Head of the EU representation in Belarus, Steen Noerlov, shared a tweet in Belarusian: “Today is the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus in memory of 31-year-old Raman Bandarenka. His death remains uninvestigated and those responsible have not been charged”.
Ingrida Šimonytė, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, wrote on Twitter: “On the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus, Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya and I argue that international support to Free Belarus is as important as ever”. Together, Ms. Šimonytė and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya published an op-ed on the need to stand together in defense of freedom and democracy.
Ambassador-at-Large of Lithuania to Belarus, Asta Andrijauskienė, wrote in Belarusian: “Eternal memory to Raman Bandarenka and all those who died for freedom and truth”.
Juozas Olekas, a Lithuanian member of the European Parliament and head of the EP group “For a Democratic Belarus”, wrote on Twitter: “Today is the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus. On this day, three years ago, 31-year-old Raman Bandarenka was killed in Minsk by Lukashenka’s thugs. We stand with the democracy-seeking Belarusians and help them in their fight for freedom”.
Oleksiy Goncharenko, the Vice President of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons and a Ukrainian MP, shared a statement of the caucus “For Democratic Belarus” in the Ukrainian Parliament: “We call on our partners to support the democratic forces of Belarus and the Belarusian people in their aspirations to restore independence to their state”.
Artur Michalski, Polish Foreign Minister’s Plenipotentiary for cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces and former Polish ambassador to Belarus published a tweet in Belarusian: “Belarusians yearn to live in a free homeland. They are thrown into prisons, they seek refuge abroad from persecution, or they close in on themselves out of fear. Some, like Raman Bandarenka, who was killed 3 years ago, gave their lives for the dignity of the people. Their sacrifice will not be in vain”.
The Embassy of Canada in Poland published on Twitter: “Three years ago, Raman Bandarenka died in Minsk after being brutally beaten for defending symbols of peaceful protest. We proudly stand in solidarity with Belarus. Canada is working with partners so that the voice of Belarusians is heard and the victims are not forgotten”.
The Permanent Representation of Poland to the Council of Europe also supported Belarus on Twitter.
The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted: “Minister Jan Lipavský met Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Vilnius on the eve of the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus. Expressed our unwavering support for all Belarusians fighting for freedom and human rights. Freedom to all Belarusian political prisoners!”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia posted on Twitter: “On the International Solidarity Day with Belarus, we express our solidarity with all those people who, despite continuous repressions, endure in their fight for a democratic and Free Belarus in Europe. You can count on Latvia’s support as long as it takes”.
Image by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
The US Embassy in Minsk shared on Twitter: “The United States is honored to stand in solidarity with Belarus as Belarusians around the world continue to fight for a bright future”.
The EPP group in the European Parliament released a statement: “On the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus, we stand with Belarusians, a brave nation fighting for freedom and democracy. The EU must be as determined as possible in its support for Belarusians”.
Tatiana Termacic, a Council of Europe member and Head of the PACE Secretariat Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, wrote about the letters she sent to political prisoners: “On the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus, I remember the letters I wrote to political prisoners, which never reached their recipients. Amidst all the other tragedies, the fight for a democratic Belarus should not be forgotten”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway made a statement on Twitter: “Norway stands in solidarity with political prisoners and those who fight for a democratic and free Belarus. We will not forget the victims of the regime’s repression”.
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Twitter: “1500. This is the number of political prisoners in Belarus today, according to the Viasna human rights group. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ales Bialiatski is one of them. The Lukashenka regime’s brutal repression must stop”.
Helmut Brandstätter, a member of the Austrian Parliament, expressed his support for Belarusians and thanked Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We stand with the people, who fight against the dictator Lukashenka. I am grateful for every meeting with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, she works for a democratic Belarus in a peaceful Europe”.
Hanke Bruins Slot, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, also expressed solidarity with Belarusians on Twitter.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium released a statement of support for Belarus.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia made a statement on Twitter: “On the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus, we remember Human Rights and Freedom of expression activists, who are building democratic societies and a better future. They will never be forgotten”.
Peter Burke, the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Minister of State at the Department of Defense, wrote words of support for Belarusians: “On this Day of Solidarity with Belarus, Ireland calls for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus. Last Thursday in Vilnius, I spoke of the important work of Belarusian human rights defenders and media, and the risks they take”.
Photo by Peter Burke
The Permanent Mission of France to the Council of Europe tweeted: “The Committee of Ministers of the EU and its member states expressed their support for the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people to live freely”.
Thijs Reuten, a Member of the European Parliament, wrote: “Today, on the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus, we show our unwavering support for Belarus’ European future in the family of democratic states”.
Beate Müller-Gemmeke, a Member of the German Bundestag for Alliance 90/The Greens, said: “I stand in solidarity with the people of Belarus and demand the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Hanna Ablab, over whom I took patronage”.
Klára Dobrev, the shadow Prime Minister of Hungary, and Ferenc Gyurcsány, the Leader of Hungary’s Democratic Coalition, published a joint statement: “Today is the International Day of Solidarity of Belarus. The shadow government and the leader of the Democratic Coalition reinforced their full solidarity with Belarusians who continue to fight for the restoration of democracy and human rights in their country, as well as for the release of political prisoners. The shadow government and the Democratic Coalition support the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus and demand the release of Belarusian political prisoners. We call on Viktor Orban’s government to stop cooperation with the dictator of Belarus, Aliaksandr Lukashenka”.
Helen Khoshtaria, a Georgian politician and activist, supported Belarusians on Twitter: “Today is the Day of Solidarity with Belarus. The Georgian people and I stand with Belarusians in their struggle against Russian oppression and the Lukashenka regime. Together we will overcome the darkness and live in Europe in unity, freely, and at peace! Long live Belarus!”
Alexander Kavtaradze, a co-founder of the Georgian NGO “Civic Hall”, wrote: “Raman’s struggle against injustice will bear fruits: Belarus will be free”.
The Georgian civil platform Gamziri published a tweet: “United as Georgians, we stand in wholehearted solidarity with the brave Belarusian people on this Day of Solidarity with Belarus. The West must exhibit unwavering determination in supporting our Belarusian friends, underscoring our shared commitment to freedom and democracy. Long live Belarus!”
Other politicians and diplomats also joined the action:
Ivana Bacik, the Leader of the Labor Party, Ireland.
Carl-Julius Cronenberg, Member of the Bundestag, Germany.
Michaela Šojdrová, Member of the European Parliament, Czech Republic.
Hanna Gunnarsson, Member of the Swedish Parliament.
Gustaf Göthberg, Member of the Swedish Parliament.
Paul Galles, Member of the European Parliament, Luxembourg.
Séadhna MacHugh, Ambassador of Ireland to Lithuania.
On the occasion of the Day of Solidarity, the Belarusian human rights community issued a joint statement. RAZAM, the association of Belarusians in Germany, also expressed solidarity.
Civil activist Alana Gebremariam shared a video address calling for supporting the youth in prison.
Like on all Days of Solidarity, Belarusians held rallies both in Belarus and other countries.
Belarusian pensioners’ group “Knitted Berets” held a rally in memory of Raman Bandarenka.
Photo by “Knitted berets”
Residents of Vaukavysk also honored the memory of the hero. “Heroes don’t die, they live in our hearts! Long Live Belarus, Long Live the Heroes of Belarus!”, brave Belarusians shared.
Photo by Belarusians of Vaukavysk, Belarus
Belarusians also held online and offline rallies and campaigns in Lithuania, Poland, Scotland, Germany, the US, the UK, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Cyprus, and other countries.
Photo by Belarusians of Tricity, Poland
Photo by Belarusians of Warsaw, Poland
Photo by Belarusians of Lublin, Poland
Photo by Viasna Human Rights Center
Photo by Belarusians of Belgium
