Video address of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the link.
- Text of address:
“Dear friends,
Join us in marking the International Day of Solidarity with political prisoners and the people of Belarus on May 21.
I ask you to show your solidarity and help us to raise awareness. Awareness for those who, unlike us, wake up every day in a cold gloomy cell. Who, unlike us, can’t see the sky for more than an hour a day. Who, unlike us, can’t hear the voices of their loved ones for days and months.
Like us, they keep dreaming of a free Belarus. This dream is shared by millions of Belarusians, who are also deprived of their fundamental rights.
It has already been 1,000 days since the stolen elections of 2020. 1,000 days of fearless fight of Belarusian for freedom and democracy. 1,000 days of terror and repressions.
Unfortunately, the tyrant did not have any intention of giving up power. He unleashed a wave of violence against his own people unlike anything seen in Europe for decades. Tens of thousands were detained, brutally beaten and tortured, locked up in prison cells under the most inhuman conditions. Some lost their lives.
Lukashenka could only keep power by using extreme brutality – aided by Russia – that foreshadowed the brutality that we would later see in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Lukashenka and Putin have shown a complete disregard for human lives, whether their own people or others – they only care about keeping power.
One of those who paid the highest price was Vitold Ashurak, who died in prison on May 21, 2021. Vitold was a political activist, who cared for the environment and campaigned against the harmful production of glass wool.
This kind, gentle soul wanted to make his country a better place to live. But this sort of ambition is not allowed in Belarus. He was detained and sentenced to five years in a penal colony. A threat to state security, the judge said. Vitold died at age 50 in captivity, but other prisoners believe he was killed.
Just a few days ago, another political prisoner died in prison. Mikalaj Klimovich drew a cartoon on Lukashenka and was sentenced to one year in jail for that.
We know the names of 1,500 political prisoners, but the real number is up to 5000. To destroy them physically and morally, the regime put many of them in incommunicado mode, or threw them in the punishment cells. Lawyers who were the only contact to them – are deprived of licenses or put in jail too.
Since March 9, I have not heard about my husband Siarhei, sentenced to 19 years. I don't know if he is alive. Since April, we have not heard anything from Viktar Babaryka – another presidential hopeful. He was brought from prison to hospital with traces of beating, and no family or lawyers know his whereabouts.
We call on governments and international organizations, such as the UN or OSCE, to help us to stop this nightmare. We must stop this impunity. We must not allow the regime murder its opponents behind a wall of silence.
Join the Day of Solidarity with political prisoners on May 21. You may ask, can we really make a difference? Believe me, it makes a huge difference. The pressure from the world community reminds the regime that their actions will have consequences. Your support shows the families and friends of the repressed that they are not alone.
Therefore, I ask you to give some of your time for this Day of Solidarity. Whether to organize an action, issue a statement, write a tweet, join a protest, or write a letter to a prisoner or their family. It all matters. Join the campaign launched by Libereco, and become a godparent for a political prisoner you can pick yourself.
Let us make sure that Vitold Ashurak, Raman Bandarenka, Mikalai Klimovich, and so many others did not die in vain.
Thank you for your solidarity”.
