Latest news about jailed Viasna human rights defenders
We collected news on Viasna team members who are behind bars.
Political prisoners from Viasna team were included in the "list of extremists"
On December 8, the Ministry of Internal Affairs made a traditional Friday update of the "list of citizens of Belarus, foreign citizens, or stateless persons involved in extremist activities."
Among others, Viasna Chairman and Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski, his deputy and FIDH Vice President Valiantsin Stefanovic, coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign Uladzimir Labkovich, and human rights defender Dzmitryi Salauyou were added to the list.
Support them with letters and postcards of solidarity:Penal colony No. 9, 213410, Horki, vul. Dabraliubava, 16, Penal colony No. 15, 213105, Mahileu, Veina, Slauharadskaja shasha 183, to Penal colony No. 17, 213004, Shklou, vul. 1-ja Zavodskaja 8, to |
An art installation Unbreakable, dedicated to the political prisoners from Viasna team, opened in the very center of Vilnius
The metal art installation Unbreakable features images of the faces of five imprisoned Viasna human rights activists: Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, Uladzimir Labkovich, Marfa Rabkova, and Andrei Chapiuk.
The art installation is situated on Lukishskaya Square until January 8, 2024.
Moldovan MPs held a picket in support of Belarusian political prisoners
The action was dedicated to the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus. It took place on December 1 at the building of the Belarusian Embassy in Chisinau
The picket was organized by deputies of a parliamentary group in support of democratic Belarus.
One of the posters was dedicated to Ales Bialiatski.
A solidarity rally with Belarusian political prisoners was held in Zurich, Switzerland
Among the participants of the action are former political prisoners Volha Klaskouska and Ivan Andrushoits, Lars Bünger from a human rights organization Libereco, and members of the Belarusian-Swiss association RAZAM. Among the posters there were images of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski.
Natallia Pinchuk told American Congressman Christopher Smith about the situation with Ales Bialiatski
Ales Bialiatski's wife Natallia Pinchuk met with American Congressman Christopher Smith in Washington. Their previous meeting was in 2012, when Ales was serving his first sentence for human rights activities.
- Christopher Smith
"I remember with gratitude our meeting 10 years ago. Ales was in prison on a false criminal charge for the first time, and you supported us.
The Belarusian people surprised the world in 2020, when many people opposed the dictatorship. The peaceful protest was brutally suppressed with the support of the Kremlin. The government rests only on Putin's support and endless repression, which has already affected hundreds of thousands.
I really hope that even in the current situation, when evil has reared its head, when aggressive wars are going on all over the world, the democratic world will support Belarusians. My call is freedom for Ales! Freedom for all political prisoners!"
#FreeViasna campaign took part in the Belarus in / and Europe advent market
#FreeViasna campaign took part in the Belarus in/and Europe advent market, which was held at the European Humanities University on December 6. During the event, human rights defenders once again reminded the public about the political prisoners.
The event was attended by students and professors of European Humanities University, and the expert community of Belarus and Europe. During the discussion titled Belarus in/and Europe with well-known European and Belarusian experts, politicians, and academics, the participants discussed issues related to Belarusian-European cooperation and shared their experiences.
A dozen well-known enterprises, NGOs, embassies, human rights and educational initiatives and other participants visited the advent market, organized after the discussion.
A joint action to support Belarusian political prisoners took place in the European Parliament during the European-Belarusian Cross-Party Forum "8+100"
The forum was held in Brussels. The participants of the action held posters with images of political prisoners from the Viasna team: Marfa Rabkova and Ales Bialiatski.
The International Volunteer Day was celebrated on December 5
Meanwhile, two Viasna volunteers, Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapiuk, remain behind bars. They were detained in 2020 and later sentenced to long terms.
Send letters or postcards of solidarity to Marfa and Andrei:Penal colony No. 4. 246035, Homel, vul. Antoshkina, 3 Penal colony No. 22. 225295, Brest region, Ivatsevichy, Damanava, PO box 20, |
How else to support Viasna team?
1. Letters of solidarity are the strongest support from outside. You can send your letters via regular mail, as well as through electronic services:
You can also send telegrams at the post office or by phone number 166 (only from the landline) and dictate the text. Do not forget to leave your name in the text of the telegram.
2. An equally significant support is the dissemination of information. We urge you to tell your relatives, friends, colleagues, and directly on social media about the Viasna team and other political prisoners. Be sure to use the hashtag #FreeViasna.
3. Sign the petition for the release of the Viasna team members and all political prisoners of Belarus!
4. Support Viasna on Patreon or with a one-time donation.
More news about Viasna team on the website freeviasna.org
