Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The Viasna Human Rights Center estimates the number of political prisoners in Belarus to be almost 1500 people. Since 2020, at least 728 people have been released after serving their politically motivated sentences. Thousands of Belarusians are still in facilities of restricted freedom. Many refuse to be recognized as political prisoners, reasonably fearing pressure in prisons. The number of Belarusians who have gone through political sentences is as many as the people living in small towns like Miyory, Naraulia, or Astravets.
On March 28, 2023, the regime detained Artsiom, Anatoli Liabedzka’s son. Artsiom has a little daughter waiting for him at home who wonders every day when her daddy will be back. Just imagine how many families there are in Belarus where parents cannot see their children and children cannot see their parents.
These are thousands of human fates – broken or crushed. And all these people count on our support and solidarity. They believe that they are not alone. And we must not let them down. We must show them and the whole world that we care.
Join the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners on May 21. Hold rallies and marches in your cities. Write letters and collect care packages. Send donations to initiatives or support fundraisers organized by Belarusian activists to help political prisoners”.
- Yauheniya Dougaya, journalist and author of the Politvyazynka project, is raising funds for women in pre-trial detention centers and those sentenced to restricted freedom.
- Siarhei Dolhushau, founder and head of the EtnaTradytsyi project has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to help former political prisoners and publish books and albums.
- Valeryna Kustova, Belarusian poetess and host of a TV show telling the stories of Belarusian activists, is raising funds for the persons featured on the show and sharing other fundraisers.
