Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya calls on all friends of Belarusians to join the Day of Solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus.
“On May 21, I ask you to be the voice of all those silenced by the regime in Belarus. Over 1,200 political prisoners are currently behind bars – for their will to live in a free, democratic country. They are locked in cold cells, see no sunlight, and are cut off from the world and even from communication. The regime wants to convince them that the world has forgotten them. We must not let that happen. We must show that we stand with all the unjustly repressed in Belarus – every day until they are free”.
May 21 is the day when we mark the death of Vitold Ashurak, a Belarusian activist who died in prison in 2021, after being severely beaten. Vitold cared deeply about the environment, campaigned for justice, and was sentenced to five years – for participating in peaceful protests in 2020.
On July 11, 2023, the famous Belarusian artist Ales Pushkin died in a hospital, where he was brought from prison, already unconscious. The regime denied him proper medical assistance. They just cruelly let him fade away behind bars.
Mikalai Klimovich, Aliaksandr Kulinich, Ihar Lednik, Vadzim Khrasko, Dzmitry Shlethauer – we lost them all because of the regime’s cruelty against political prisoners. This year, we have lost two women, Hanna Kandratsenka and Tamara Karavai, whose health deteriorated in prison and who died soon after being released.
The Lukashenka regime shows no mercy – not to women, not to the ill, not to the elderly, not to the minors. It throws people in prison for likes on social media, for words, for their freedom aspirations, and then quietly destroys their health and human dignity. The release of political prisoners cannot wait.
Since 2020, the Viasna Human Rights Centre has documented over 6,940 politically motivated criminal convictions. More than 1,500 people have served their full, unjust, politically motivated sentences and were released. Sadly, many others were repeatedly tried for “breaking the prison rules” and, instead of being released, remained behind bars to serve additional terms. The regime is too afraid of them to let them go.
Due to inhumane treatment, political prisoner Viktoryia Kulsha has begun an unlimited hunger strike ahead of her fifth politically motivated trial. She was due to be released this spring. Kulsha is in critical health condition due to exhaustion, kidney failure, and constant torture in prison.
Currently, at least 219 political prisoners are at increased risk due to health issues. Of them, 78 have serious chronic conditions, 8 are people with disabilities, 32 are over 60 years old, and 10 have mental health conditions. These numbers show just how widespread the issue is – and how urgently healthcare is needed. They all suffer for standing up against the regime.
39 journalists and media workers remain imprisoned for doing their job: covering the truth of what is happening in our country. Ihar Losik, Katsiaryna Andreyeva, Dzianis Ivashyn, Andrzej Poczobut, Andrei Aliaksandrau, Maryna Zolatava, and many others serve harsh sentences for journalism.
Four Viasna human rights defenders also remain behind bars – Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, and Marfa Rabkova.
“One of the harshest things the regime does to suppress those sentenced for leading the 2020 resistance is putting them into incommunicado mode. I haven’t heard from my husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, for over two years. My children send him letters and postcards, but never receive an answer. He is serving 19 years for challenging Lukashenka – and we don’t even know if he’s alive.
Among those held incommunicado are Maryia Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, Mikalai Statkevich, Ihar Losik, Maksim Znak. We know nothing about their condition, except for rare propaganda photos where the regime drags them out of their cells”, said Tsikhanouskaya.
This is not justice. This is vengeance. This is state-sanctioned cruelty.
We call on governments, international institutions, and all friends of Belarus to help stop this nightmare. Raise your voice. Put pressure on the regime. Remind them that the world is watching – and that silence kills.
Join us on May 21 to honor the courage of the imprisoned and the memory of those we have lost.
To show that you #StandwithBelarus, you can:
Voice Solidarity: Share statements, tweets, and posts supporting Belarusians fighting for freedom and facing repression. Share news using #StandWithBelarus.
Show Visual Support: Display the national Belarusian white-red-white flag. Use banners, posters, or hashtags in public spaces.
Organize Events: Host discussions, seminars, exhibitions, cultural events, film screenings on Belarus.
Join Protests: Take part in or organize solidarity rallies with Belarusians abroad.
On Political Prisoners:
- Parliamentarians can become symbolic godparents via Politzek and Libereco.
- Learn more about political prisoners and repression in Belarus via Viasna. Write a letter to a political prisoner (also online): Viasna, Politzek.me, Dissidentby, Solidarity Postcards Atelier.
Aid Belarusian Volunteers in Ukraine: Support the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, and other Belarusians fighting in Ukraine.
Help Journalists: Provide legal and financial support through MediaSol, Reporters Without Borders, and International Media Support (Safety Fund), Belarusian Association of Journalists.
Donate to Key Initiatives: Support humanitarian aid, medicine, and protective gear via BYSOL, Free Belarus Center, Belarusian Youth Hub, Center for Belarusian Solidarity, Belarusian House in Warsaw, #BY_help, A Country to Live In, and ByMedSol. Support the International Humanitarian Fund for victims of repression. Cooperate with Belarusian Human Rights House, Belarusian Council for Culture, Razam Lithuania, Razam DE, Dapamoga, and Belarusian National Youth Council RADA.
Offline Events
May 18
🇱🇹 Vilnius, 11:00 — “Helping Hand” action, Cathedral Square (Šventaragio Street)
🔗 Link
🇱🇹 Vilnius, 11:30 — 2,334-meter run, from the Alley of Belarusian Democracy (near the Seimas) to Cathedral Square
🔗 Link
🇱🇹 Vilnius, 12:00 — Action for the Day of Political Prisoners, Cathedral Square (Šventaragio Street)
🔗 Link
🇵🇱 Warsaw, 14:00 — “The Road to Freedom Through Shackles” action, Monument to Nicolaus Copernicus
🔗 Link
May 20
🇵🇱 Gdańsk, 18:30 — Meeting with Aleh Hruzdzilovich, BKT “Chatka” (Miszewskiego 17/307)
🔗 Link
May 21
🇱🇹 Vilnius, 19:00 — Candlelight Vigil, in front of the Belarusian Embassy (Mindaugo g. 13)
🔗 Link
🇱🇹 Vilnius, 20:00 — Performance “My Mom is in Prison”, Vilniaus g. 16
🔗 Link
🇱🇹 Vilnius, Time TBC — Film screening and action, “Kropka” store (Savičiaus g. 6)
🇵🇱 Warsaw, 17:00 — “Write a Letter to a Political Prisoner” event at the Belarusian Youth Hub (Dożynkowa 6a)
🔗 Link
🇵🇱 Warsaw, 18:00 — Opening of the exhibition “Nothing Particularly New”,
Museum of Free Belarus (Foksal 11)
🔗 Link
🇵🇱 Białystok, 18:00 — Action for the Day of Political Prisoners,
Skwer Wolnej Białorusi 1, Belarusian Consulate
🔗 Link
🇮🇹 Rome, 18:00 — Eucharistic Mass for the Day of Political Prisoners,
Chiesa della Risurrezione di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo (Via di San Sebastianello, 11)
🔗 Link
May 22
🇱🇹 Vilnius, 19:00 — Play “The Order of the White Mouse”, Mroj-Hall Theater (Gedimino pr. 28)
🔗 Link
🇵🇱 Kraków, 17:30 — “Creativity Behind Bars”, exhibition opening and discussion, Przestrzeń (ul. Mikołajska 4/6)
🇵🇱 Wrocław, 19:00 — Signing letters of solidarity to Belarusian political prisoners
Tadeusza Kościuszki 35A
🔗 Link
May 23
🇵🇱 Poznań, 19:30 — Day of Political Prisoners,
Rozbrat, Pułaskiego 21A
🔗 Link
May 24
🇳🇱 Utrecht, 20:00 — Evening “Five Years of Struggle and Repression in Belarus”,
Savannah Bay, Telingstraat 13
🔗 Link
May 26
🇬🇧 London, 12:00 — Solidarity Action with Belarusian Political Prisoners,
10 Downing Street (London)
🔗 Link
