Third Congress on Political Prisoners in Belarus

Let us invite you to the Third Congress on Political Prisoners in Belarus #WithoutJustCause, which will begin on May 19 in Poznań with an event dedicated to repressed youth and continue on May 21 in Vilnius. Day 1 will be dedicated to the memory of Vitold Ashurak and to all those who remain behind bars. Through literature and art, we will look beyond prison walls to grasp the scale of repression and the strength of solidarity that connects political prisoners with one another and with the free world.

Day 2 of the Congress will serve as a platform for a strategic shift from documenting crimes to taking practical action. Participants will discuss methods of human rights work under conditions of terror, the “fragile ethics” of assistance, and assess the effectiveness of international pressure on the regime in Belarus. It will provide a space for professional dialogue between human rights defenders and policymakers in the face of current challenges.

Poznań, Poland

19.05.2026

Vilnius, Lithuania

21–22.05.2026

Registration Media accreditation

Партнеры мерапрыемства

Program

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Collegium Minus, Lubrański Hall

Working languages: Belarusian, Russian, Polish, English

The Unbroken Generation. Youth Voices of Belarus 2020

17:00–17:15

Registration and networking

17:15–17:30

Opening Remarks

Tadeusz Wallas, rector’s proxy for university development / Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
Kryścina Šyjanok, director / Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic
Alaksiej Hrachoŭski, deputy representative / Youth Policy Representation of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

17:30–18:50

Panel Discussion “The Unbroken Generation. Youth Voices of Belarus 2020”

Speakers:

Alaksandr Paršankoŭ / Assosiation of Belarusian Students of the Czech Republic
Alaksiej Hrachoŭski / Belarusian Youth Organization LICHTAR
Daniła Łaŭrecki / Youth Bloc
Sieviaryn Kviatkoŭski / “Memory Book 2020” Project

Moderator: Volha Stryžniova

18:50–19:05

Coffee break

19:05–19:55

Presentation of the results of the support program for young repressed Belarusians: needs and challenges (Belarusian National Youth Council RADA)

19:55–20:00

Closing remarks

Andrzej Pryba / Center for Axiology of New Technologies and Social Transformations of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

May 21 is the Day of Political Prisoners in Belarus, observed in memory of political activist Vitold Ašurak, who died a violent death in the Škłoŭ penal colony on May 21, 2021. The first day of the Congress will be dedicated to those who remain behind bars today, and to those invisible yet unbreakable threads of solidarity that connect political prisoners with one another and the free world. The program is built around the idea of resistance through connection. Through literature, art, and cinema, we will look behind prison walls to witness the scale of repression and feel the power of solidarity.

Working languages: Belarusian, Russian, English (simultaneous interpretation will be available)

Moderator: Kryścina Šyjanok / Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic

Exhibition of Belarusian Prison Artifacts / Belarusian Human Rights House

Exhibition of Drawings by Political Prisoners “Feelings” / Viasna

09:00–9:40

Registration, morning coffee/tea, networking

9:40–9:50

Opening. Introductory remarks

Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, President-elect of Belarus, wife of a political prisoner
Aleš Opata, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Lithuania
Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

9:50–10:00

Keynote speech

Aleś Bialacki, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, founder of the Viasna Human Rights Centre, political prisoner

10:00–11:15

Panel 1: “Shields Without, Networks Within: Solidarity Against Prison Walls”

Speakers:

Pavieł Sieviaryniec, political prisoner
Uładzimir Łabkovič, political prisoner
Natalla Dulina, political prisoner
Natalla Mackievič, lawyer
Rasa Juknevičienė, MEP, symbolic godmother of political prisoner Jury Ułasaŭ (video message)

Moderator: Julija Kockaja

11:15–11:30

Coffee break

11:30–12:45

Panel 2: “Reporting from Prison: From Protest Coverage to Political Imprisonment. Media Solidarity”

Exhibition on Political Prisoner Journalists / Belarusian Association of Journalists

Exhibition “Letters of Lukashenka’s Prisoners” / Index on Censorship

Speakers:

Jahor Marcinovič, political prisoner
Ksienija Łuckina, political prisoner
Volha Jarochina, media expert
Aleh Ahiejeŭ, Vice-Chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ)

Moderator: Nastaśsia Roŭda

12:45–13:30

Lunch

13:30–15:00

Panel 3: “Notes from BELAG: Belarusian Prison Literature as an Act of Solidary Witnessing”

Belarusian Prison Literature Stand / Viasna, PEN Belarus, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Empty Chair / PEN Belarus

Speakers:

Alena Łapcionak, editor of the “Belarusian Prison Literature” book series / Viasna Human Rights Centre
Iryna Kozikava, Executive Director and Project Coordinator / PEN Belarus;
Volha Vialička, psychology expert (“From Two to Fifteen: My Mom is in Prison”)
Zmicier Daškievič, political prisoner (“The Worm”)

Moderator: Alaksandr Łukašuk

15:00–15:15

Coffee break

15:15–16:45

Panel 4: “The Art of Solidarity: The Role of Culture in the Struggle to Free Political Prisoners”

Exhibition of Portraits of Foreign Political Prisoners / Ksiša Aniołava

Speakers:

Rufina Bazłova (#FramedInBelarus)
Ksiša Aniołava (“Belarusian Martyrology” art project)
Maryna Dašuk (“1.8M” play and “The body you are calling is currently not available” performance)
Mara Tamkovič (“Under the Grey Sky” film)

Moderator: Irena Kaciałovič

17:00–18:20

Screening of the film “Under Grey Sky” (dir. Mara Tamkovič)

The second day of the Congress is dedicated to strategic pathways for transitioning from documenting crimes to actions that could help resolve the human rights crisis in Belarus. Through expert panels and fishbowl discussions, participants will discuss methods of human rights work in the context of total repression, analyze the "fragile ethics" of providing aid within the country, and evaluate the effectiveness of international pressure on the regime. Special attention will be paid to the role of the Belarusian diaspora as a source of long-term assistance and an engine for change, which will help formulate the responsibility and action plan of the Belarusian community abroad in the struggle for a free Belarus.

Working languages: Belarusian, Russian, English (simultaneous interpretation will be available)

Moderation: Anastasija Vasilčuk / Viasna Human Rights Centre

9:00–10:00

Registration, morning coffee/tea, networking

9:30–10:00

Working breakfast during registration: presentation of the BelPol report "On the True Scale of Repressions in Belarus"

10:00–10:15

Introductory remarks

Juozas Olekas, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (video address)
Kryścina Šyjanok, Director of the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic
Lavon Marozaŭ, Head of the Legal Department of the Office of Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja

10:15–10:20

Keynote speech

Marfa Rabkova, political prisoner

10:20–11:50

Panel 1: “Defining the Darkness, Finding the Light: Strategies of Human Rights Organizations and Initiatives for Belarus”

Speakers:

Kaciaryna Dziajkała / Belarusian Helsinki Committee
Pavieł Sapiełka / Viasna Human Rights Centre
Vytis Jurkonis / Freedom House
Karina Moskalenko / UN Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus
Andrea Huber / International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB) (online)

Moderator: Dźmitry Lepretar

12:00–12:15

Coffee break

12:15–13:45

Fishbowl 1: “The Fragile Ethics of Assistance: Where is the Line Between Safety and the Effectiveness of Support Inside and Outside Belarus?”

Speakers:

Alesia Bunievič, political prisoner
Ana Dapševičiūtė / BYSOL
Julija Juchno / Center for the Belarusian Community in Florence
Zmicier Hierylovič, Secretary for Advocacy and Policy / Belarusian National Youth Council "RADA"

Moderator: Irina MсLean

13:45–14:20

Lunch

14:20–15:50

Panel 2: “Pressure and Support: How Can the International Community Effectively Influence the Regime in Minsk?”

Speakers:

Pavieł Łatuška, Deputy Head, United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus
Juraś Mielaškievič, Deputy Chairman of the BPF Party, political prisoner
Kristina Služman, wife of Siarhiej Botvič, political prisoner and citizen of Lithuania and France
Uładzimir Žyhar / BELPOL
Jekaterina Rojaka, Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

Moderator: Rosa Turarbekova

15:50–17:20

Fishbowl 2: “The Role and Responsibility of the Belarusian Community Abroad in Supporting the Released”

Speakers:

Natalla Kalehava / Dapamoga
Julija Luzina / Volnyja
Taćciana Niadbaj / PEN Belarus
Jaŭhienija Biełkina / Viasna Volunteer Service
Vola Broughman / Association of Belarusians in America (ABA) (online)

Moderator: Sieviaryn Kviatkoŭski