The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya fully supports Andrei Hniot in his struggle for freedom and dignity. Andrei’s case is a clear example of politically motivated persecution of a civic activist from Belarus. Known for his active stance and participation in peaceful protests, Andrei has been arrested and unlawfully held by the authorities of the Republic of Serbia.
Today, on August 27, 2024, another court hearing regarding Andrei’s extradition to Belarus will take place in Belgrade. We call on the Serbian authorities to immediately release the citizen of the Republic of Belarus, Andrei Hniot, and allow him to leave the country freely and without obstruction.
We also condemn any actions aimed at suppressing civil liberties and the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Andrei Hniot has become yet another victim of the repressive Belarusian regime, which seeks to quash any expression of dissent and civic activism both within Belarus and beyond its borders.
The Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya once again urges the international community to follow this case and support the immediate release of Andrei Hniot. The Legal Team of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office has been in constant communication with diplomats from the European Union and the United States since Andrei’s detention, as well as with the international human rights community. Thanks to the joint efforts of Belarusian civil society and democratic forces, Andrei Hniot has been removed from Interpol’s wanted list.
We also express our support for Andrei’s family and friends, who are deeply concerned for his fate during this difficult time. The Belarusian people must not be left alone in the face of arbitrariness and repression. Only solidarity and international pressure can help stop this large-scale violence and injustice.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her team will continue to fight for the rights and freedoms of every Belarusian, as well as for justice and the democratic values that should form the foundation of a new Belarus.
