#FreeViasna: Latest news about jailed Viasna human rights defenders
On September 17, #FreeViasna campaign of solidarity with the imprisoned Viasna members was launched. Here’s the latest news about them.
Leanid Sudalenka left Belarus
Soon after being released from the penal colony on July 21, 2023, human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka met his mother.
On August 4, it was revealed that Sudalenka had left Belarus.
“Friends, I made a difficult decision. On the 14th day after my release, I am already safe, which means that, as before, I will be able to be open to everyone. Most importantly, I have not traded my conscience and freedom for this time. I am willing to listen, hear, talk and together look for answers to the most challenging questions,” the former political prisoner posted on his Facebook page.
After Leonid left Belarus, he gave an interview to the Viasna human rights center.
“When I was in the pre-trial detention center, I learned about the solidarity campaign #FreeViasna from the letters that were sent to me. As for the colony, it was more challenging to get information there because you could only hear something on personal calls. Or people passed it on to each other: someone had a visit, talked to their relatives, and they, for example, told them about the campaign, and they passed it on to me.
Like when I found out about Ales Bialiatski winning the Nobel Prize—I heard it from a fellow political prisoner who shouted the news across the dining hall. Later, I confirmed it with my family. I thought this award might help Ales since judging a human rights defender is one thing, but judging a Nobel laureate is another. Sadly, Belarus's judicial system showed its true face,” the human rights defender said.
Rights advocate Leanid Sudalenka on his jail experience: “I was labeled a persistent violator”
The mural "Unconquered Belarusians" was unveiled in the Belarus House in Warsaw
On August 5, a mural with portraits of six influential Belarusian political prisoners was opened in the courtyard of the Belarus House in Warsaw. The six depicted people are Nobel prize laureate and the leader of Viasna Ales Bialiatski, human rights defender Nasta Loika, local culture activist Pavel Belavus, opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich, journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva, and activist Darya Losik.
- Ales Bialitski was portrayed in a mural of political prisoners known for their firm stance in promoting Belarusian culture.
According to the director of the Belarus House, Ales Zarambiuk, the mural was painted by a group of Belarusian artists commissioned by the house.
“We remember each and every one of you.” The chain of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners was held in Zurich
Among others, it was attended by former political prisoners Hanna Baran and Ivan Andrushoits, members of the Belarusian-Swiss association RAZAM, and human rights defenders from Libereco.
It has been 25 months since three Viasna human rights defenders have been jailed
Nobel Prize winner, Viasna chair Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich have been held in custody for 25 months. They were detained on July 14, 2021.
“Some people came just to say thank you.” RADA market hosted FreeViasna stand
On International Youth Day, August 12, Vilnius hosted a fair of Belarusian organizations, initiatives, and craftspeople RADA Market, organized by the Belarusian National Youth Council RADA. Human rights activists of Viasna also took part in it.
One of the cross-cutting themes at the fair was human rights and political prisoners. Solidarity campaign with politically imprisoned human rights defenders #FreeViasna offered visitors to answer questions about their imprisoned colleagues and receive gifts for deed answers.
“Most people know who Ales Bialiatski is,” said the representative of the #FreeViasna campaign Maryna Kastylianchanka. “Some people also know about Marfa Rabkova. As for others, they are less known. Some felt embarrassed because they worried that they didn't know much. There were different answers, some people used logic, but everyone was interested. The quiz gave people the opportunity to learn interesting facts about our fellows. For example, that Ales Bialiatski was born in Karelia. Or that he grew flowers—this one often seems to surprise people. One girl actually knew this fact because she remembered photos Ales posted on his personal page on social media.”
There are 161 female political prisoners, Marfa Rabkova among them
August 12, 2023, marked the third anniversary of women's protests in Belarus. On this day in 2020, women across Belarus took to the streets with white flowers in their hands. They stood in solidarity chains to protest against the brutality of security forces during the dispersal of demonstrators. It was a women's protest against violence. Since then, it became a regular occurrence, held on Saturdays. However, unprecedented repression resulted in 161 women political prisoners. The coordinator of the Viasna Volunteer Service Marfa Rabkova is one of them.
Recently, there was no news about Marfa, as well as about Viasna" volunteer Andrei Chapiuk.
At least 3,645 people have criminal convictions three years after the 2020 election
In the three years since the beginning of the election campaign in Belarus, no less than 3,645 people have been convicted in criminal trials, Viasna calculated. Among them are five Viasna fellows.
At least 3,645 people have criminal convictions three years after the 2020 election
How to support Viasna?
We encourage you to share the stories of Viasna members and other political prisoners with your family, friends, and colleagues, and simply on social media using the hashtag #FreeViasna. Let’s show our solidarity and support political prisoners in Belarus!
In addition, you can sign the petition for releasing Viasna leaders and all political prisoners of Belarus, become our patron on Patreon or support us with a single donation.
You can find more news about imprisoned Viasna human rights defenders on the website freeviasna.org
