An international humanitarian fund to support Belarusian political prisoners and their families has been established in Norway at the initiative of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Support will include medical, material, and psychological assistance, as well as rehabilitation for individuals who have suffered political repression from the regime.
During her working visit to Oslo, the Belarusian leader met with Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, who confirmed that Norway will allocate 10 million Norwegian kroner as the first contribution to the fund. Belarusian organizations and initiatives that assist political prisoners and their families will administer it.
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently working on formalizing the fund’s operations. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barts Eide, supported this initiative and emphasized, “The situation with political prisoners in Belarus is very alarming. Such assistance is much needed for the rehabilitation of former political prisoners and their families”.
Further contributions to the fund can be made by both foreign governments and international organizations, as well as other donors.
