16 Luxembourg MPs become godparents of political prisoners in Belarus

The Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has committed itself to supporting political prisoners of the Belarusian regime. 16 Members of Parliament have become symbolic godparents as part of Libereco solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou.

From left to right: Mars Di Bartolomeo, Lydia Mutsch, Yves Cruchten, Josée Lorsche, Paul Galles, Octavie Modert, Nathalie Oberweis, Myriam Cecchetti, Jessie Thill, Stéphanie Empain, Cécile Hemmen, Charles Margue, Fernand Etgen, Gusty Graas, Sven Clement, Max Hengel. Source: Libereco

The Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies sends a strong message of solidarity against human rights violations in Belarus. Political repression is pervasive and affects the daily lives of many civilians in Belarus. That’s why we highly appreciate the efforts of the Luxembourg parliamentarians and would like to express our sincere gratitude for the commitment of the new godparents. Below we publish the statement of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies:

“We are about to enter the third year since the fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus. Widespread fear has taken hold in this country, where human rights are regularly violated and arbitrary arrests have sadly become commonplace. Conditions of arrest and detention are often inhuman and degrading. 

In order to institutionalise the dialogue with Belarusian democratic forces, an international study group on Belarus, serving as platform, has been established by the Luxembourg Parliament. In its resolution of 13 June 2023, the Chamber also condemned the acts of torture and the systematic repression by the regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. 

While we are raising awareness within the international community, our actions must never be merely symbolic. 

This is the reason why a total of sixteen Luxembourg parliamentarians, including the Speaker, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Chair of the Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, have decided to support political prisoners in Belarus.

This materialisation of support gives greater visibility to the individual situations of people imprisoned for political reasons.

In view of the foregoing, the Luxembourg MPs demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mikalai Autukhovich, Viktar Snehur, Iryna Harachkina, Aliaksei Hameza, Aliaksandr Murauyou, Siarhei Ramanau, Siarhei Ananneu, Anastasiya Petrachenka, Aliaksandr Mantsevich, Pavel Padabed, Aliaksandr (Ales) Liubenchuk, Aliaksandra Kasko, Uladzimir Lavor, Natallia Lashch, Tatsiana Kolas and Yan Papkovich.”

We would like to announce the new godparents and the political prisoners who are being supported by them:

Mikalai Autukhovich is an entrepreneur and public figure. Autukhovich is accused of violating several articles of the Belarusian Criminal Code, such as Art. 357 (“Conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way”), Art. 285 (“Creation of a criminal organisation or its leadership”) or Art. 130 (“Incitement to hatred”). He was sentenced to 25 years in a high security penal colony.
Paul Galles (CSV) is an alternate Member of the Luxembourg delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). He has taken on the godparenthood for Mikalai Autukhovich.

Viktar Snehur was arrested for belonging to an alleged “terrorist group” that was founded by Mikalai Autukhovich.He was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment under Art. 285 (“ Participation in a criminal organisation”), Art. 357 (“Attempted conspiracy to seize state power by unconstitutional means”) and others.
Josée Lorsché (déi gréng) is a Member of the Justice Committee and of the Luxembourg delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Lorsché is now the symbolic godparent of Viktar Snehur.

Iryna Harachkina was also sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment for being a member of Autukhovich’s group. She was charged with Art. 295 (“Unlawful acts against firearms, ammunition and explosives”).
Octavie Modert (CSV) is Vice-Chairwoman of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights. Through our #WeStandBYyou campaign, Octavie Modert has become the godparent of Iryna Harachkina.

Aliaksei Hameza was charged under Art. 361 (“Calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus”), Art. 130 (“Incitement to hatred) and Art. 290 (“Establishing or participating in an organisation for the purpose of terrorist activity”). Hameza was sentenced to 14.5 years’ imprisonment. 
Cécile Hemmen (LSAP) is a Member of the Justice Committee and has taken on the godparenthood for Aliaksei Hameza.

Aliaksandr Murauyou was a defendant in the Flying Storks case. Among the charges against him are violations of Art. 361 (“Calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus”), Art. 218(“Intentional destruction or damage to property committed in a generally dangerous manner or causing damage on a large scale”) and Art. 361 (“ Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it”). Murauyou was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Fernand Etgen (DP) is President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies and is now supporting Aliaksandr Murauyou through our #WeStandBYyou campaign.

Siarhei Ramanau was an activist in an anarchist organisation and was arrested during a border crossing. He was sentenced to 20 years and 11 months in a high security prison for “unlawful acts against firearms, ammunition and explosives” (Art. 295) and  an “act of terrorism” (Art. 289).
Jessie Thill (déi gréng) is Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee for Monitoring Budget Implementation and a Member of the Committee on Home Affairs and Gender Equality. Thill has become the godparent of Siarhei Ramanau.

Siarhei Ananneu expressed himself in a non-threatening way to a public official and was charged under Art. 364 (“Violence or threat of violence against an employee of the internal affairs bodies”). He was sentenced to 3 years’ restricted freedom.
Sven Clement (Piraten) is a substitute Member of the delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He has now taken on the godparenthood for Siarhei Ananneu.

Anastasiya Petrachenka was arrested on 21 October 2022 for transferring money to the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, an association of Belarusian volunteers fighting on the side of the Ukrainian army. She is accused of violating Art. 361 (“Financing the activities of an extremist group”). She is in custody awaiting trial.
Stéphanie Empain (déi gréng) is Chairwoman of the Luxembourg delegation to the Europol Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group and President of the Committee on Homeland Security and Defence. As part of our #WeStandBYyou campaign, Stéphanie Empain is supporting Anastasiya Petrachenka.

Aliaksandr Mantsevich is the founder and the editor-in-chief of Rehijanaĺnaja hazieta, a leading independent mass media outlet. He has won several journalism competitions and awards for his work. In March 2023 Mantsevich was detained under Art. 396 (“Discrediting the Republic of Belarus”) for knowingly spreading false information in the printed media and on its websites. He is still awaiting trial.
Gusty Graas (DP) is a Member of the delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and chairs the delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Luxembourg delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Graas has become the godparent of Aliaksandr Mantsevich.

Pavel Padabed is a cameraman and photographer. He was arrested under Art. 361 (“Promoting extremist activities”) for distributing “extremist materials”. Pavel was sentenced to 4 years in prison.
Max Hengel (CSV) is a Member of the Committee on Home Affairs and Gender Equality. He is now supporting Pavel Padabed as his godparent.

Aliaksandr (Ales) Liubenchuk worked as a journalist and did a lot of charity work. He was accused of violating Art. 361 (“Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it”). He was sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment.
Nathalie Oberweis (Déi Lénk) is a member of the Luxembourg delegation to the Conference on the Future of Europe and Deputy Observer of the Committee on Internal Security and Defence. Oberweis has taken on the godparenthood for Aliaksandr (Ales) Liubenchuk.

Aliaksandrа Kasko is charged under Art. 361 (“Promoting extremist activities”) for giving interviews to a media recognised as an extremist organisation and for managing an “extremist” Telegram channel. She is currently in custody.
Mars Di Bartolomeo (LSAP) is Vice-President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies and is now the symbolic godparent of Aliaksandra Kasko.

Uladzimir Lavor and his friends were arrested in September 202 for hanging Ukrainian and Belarusian national flags from the facade of a high-rise building in Minsk. The group had previously discussed their anti-war action on a Telegram channel. Uladzimir was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months imprisonment for violating Art. 361-1 (“Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it”) and Art. 361-4 (“Promoting extremist activities”).
Lydia Mutsch (LSAP) is Chairwoman of the delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. As part of our #WeStandBYyou campaign, Lydia Mutsch is now supporting Uladzimir Lavor.

Natallia Lashch, a former employee of the Prosecutor’s Office, was arrested for leaking personal data of officials to the Black Book of Belarus Telegram channel. She is charged with Art. 130 (“Incitement to hatred”) and Art. 179 (“Illegal collection and dissemination of information about private life”). She was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment.
Charles Margue (déi gréng) is Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Labour, Employment and Social Security. He has taken on the godparenthood for Natallia Lashch.

Tatsiana Kolas worked in the Minsk Municipal Executive Committee and had access to the personal data of law enforcement officials, which she later leaked to the Black Book of Belarus Telegram channel. Tatsiana was detained – among others – under Art. 426 (“Abuse of power or authority”), Art. 352 (“Illegal acquisition of computer information”) and Art. 130 (“Incitement to hatred”). She was sentenced to 6.5 years imprisonment.
Yves Cruchten (LSAP) is Vice-Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee and supports Tatsiana Kolas through our #WeStandBYyou campaign.

Yan Papkovich used to work for the Belgazprombank. He was detained in September 2022 and severely beaten, and his dog was shot by the police. He was portrayed on Belarusian television as a mercenary going to war in Ukraine. Yan was charged under Art. 342 (“Organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them”) and Art. 361 (“Participation or preparing to participate in hostilities on foreign soil by a Republic of Belarus citizen”). He was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment.
Myriam Cecchetti (Déi Lénk) is a Member of the Committee on Home Affairs and Gender Equality. Cecchetti has become the symbolic godparent of Yan Papkovich.