The Co-Presidency of the Swiss Social Democratic Party takes on the godparenthood for Maksim Bas and Uladzislau Plushchau

02.02.2023 Tags: political prisoners, criminal prosecution, solidarity

https://spring96.org/en/news/111091 2023 2023-02-02T12:50:00+0300 2023-02-02T12:50:00+0300 2023-03-20T22:25:33+0300 en https://spring96.org/files/images/sources/mattea-meyer.jpeg The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

As part of Libereco solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou, Mattea Meyer (Swiss National Council, Social Democratic Party) and Cédric Wermuth (Swiss National Council, Social Democratic Party) have taken on a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.

: Mattea Meyer, member of the Swiss National Council. Source: Libereco

Maksim Bas was arrested on 29 September 2021 and sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment in a penal colony on 24 October 2022 under Art. 369 (“insulting a government official”) and Art. 130 (“incitement to hatred”) of the Belarusian Criminal Code.

Mattea Meyer, Member of the Swiss National Council and co-president of the Swiss Social Democratic Party, has taken on the godparenthood for Maksim Bas and emphasizes: “In September 2021, Maksim Bas was arrested. His “crime”? An internet comment critical of the case of Andrei Zeltser, who was killed in a shootout with a KGB officer in his own flat. As Co-President of the SP Switzerland and National Councilor, I take on the godparenthood of Maksim and demand his immediate release. For democracy and human rights, for freedom and international solidarity! #WeStandBYyou”

: Cédric Wermuth, Member of the Swiss National Council. Source: Libereco

Uladzislau Plushchau, a famous Belarusian musician, was arrested on 12 April 2022. On 2 August 2022, he was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment under Art. 369 (“insulting a government official”) and Art. 188 (“defamation”). On 10 November 2022, a new criminal case was opened against him, in the course of which he was sentenced to a total of 3 years of detention in a penal colony on 24 November 2022 under Art. 203 (“Illegal actions with respect to information about private life and personal data”).

Cédric Wermuth, Member of the Swiss National Council and co-president of the Swiss Social Democratic Party, has taken on the godparenthood for Uladzislau Plushchau and states: “Uladzislau Plushchau’s great passion has always been music. But now he had to part with his beloved instruments: In November 2022, he was sentenced to three years in prison for insulting the government in Belarus. To raise awareness of these unacceptable human rights violations, I am taking on the godparenthood for Uladzislau as Co-President of the Swiss Social Democratic Party. Together with Libereco’s #WeStandBYyou solidarity campaign, we demand his immediate release as well as all political prisoners in Belarus!”