Results of the Belarusian Anti-War Movement for the week of April 25 – May 1

Any Belarusian can join the Movement and choose from numerous options to resist the war and Belarus’ regime. 

Here is an overview of the Movement for the week of April 25 – May 1.

Support for Ukrainians and Belarusians 

• The BYSOL Foundation sent two pickup trucks to Ukraine: a Ford Ranger and a Nissan Navara. Belarusians raised funds for the purchase.
• The Dapamoga and DAR initiatives donated blood pressure monitors to a Ukrainian hospital for the treatment of military personnel.
• The ŻYVI Foundation sent a vehicle with medicine and food to Ukraine.
• The dissidentby.com initiative supporting political prisoners will be providing assistance to Belarusians persecuted by the regime, including released political prisoners and closest relatives of prisoners, if they are still behind bars. In particular, the initiative will be helping former prisoners find a job, as most employers are unwilling to hire them in view of the risks of persecution.
• Belarusians in Krakow, Szczecin, London, Edinburgh and other cities marched to support Belarus, Ukraine and protest against the war. On April 26, Belarusians held rallies in Lithuania, the Netherlands, Georgia, Belgium, Germany, and other countries – to commemorate the Chernobyl catastrophe. 
• Belarusians of Georgia, the DAR initiative, and the BYSOL Foundation sent humanitarian aid and equipment to Belarusian volunteers. In addition, Razam, a Belarusian diaspora association in Germany, purchased a trailer for the volunteers at the Ukrainian-Polish border. It has four beds, a shower, and a kitchen, allowing volunteers to rest after their shifts.
• Volunteer medics of the Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital in Ukraine received 21 sets of equipment from the Belarusian diaspora in the Czech Republic. The PFVMH has already been sent to eastern Ukraine on 26 vehicles, 9 of which were purchased and supplied by the BYSOL Foundation.
• After her visit to Germany, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya announced that Germany will soon present an aid package focusing on Belarusian students, media, as well as human rights and other initiatives. Germany will also continue funding the Deutsche Welle Belarusian program and provide a separate round of assistance to Belarus' independent trade unions, which are now under repression. The Berlin administration may establish a rehabilitation program for the children of political prisoners. In addition, Germany will facilitate accepting Belarusian refugees from both Belarus and Ukraine.
• As part of her visit to the US, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with officials at the highest level and gave several interviews to popular American TV channels. In an interview with Sky News, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya expressed support for the Ukrainian government and called on all countries to help Ukraine in the global war of democracy against dictatorship.
• Pavel Latushka, head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, and Uladzimir Astapenka, deputy head, had a meeting with the Head of the National Security Bureau of Poland, Minister Paweł Soloch. Latushka talked about the intensification of repressions against Belarusians and the arrests of independent trade union leaders.
• Following the visit of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office delegation, the Council of Europe adopted a resolution putting a definitive end to relations with the regime and ushering cooperation with the Belarusian civil society and democratic forces. This is an unprecedented decision, which creates an opportunity for systematic work with the Council of Europe.

Resistance

• Belarusians continue using ribbons in the colors of Ukrainian and Belarusian national flags to protest against the war and the regime. Residents of Minsk and its outskirts hung them on trees in their districts.
• Belarusians demonstrated their national flag at their picket in support of free Ukraine and Belarus.

Awareness campaign

• The Workers' Movement representative spoke on repressions and dismissals at Belarusian Railway, as well as on the “rail war” waged by partisans and railway workers.
• The Honest People initiative's new guide explains how to debate with people from toxic communities exposed to TV propaganda.   
• The new issue of Chestnaja Gazeta underground press outlet covers railway sabotage in Belarus, inflation, and sanctions against the regime, as well as repressions against doctors and other issues. Belarusians distribute underground press as leaflets and newspapers to counter state propaganda.

#BelarusWithUkraine

Photo: Belsat