#WeStandBYyou: Godparenthoods for political prisoners in Belarus

We launched the #WeStandBYyou solidarity campaign in July 2020, exactly one month before the presidential elections. The opportunity for politicians to take on symbolic godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus was met with great response in parliaments across Europe. We currently have 429 active godparents!

Since the rigged elections in August 2020, the situation in Belarus has continued to deteriorate. More than 40,000 people were arbitrarily arrested during peaceful protests across the country. Many of them remain in detention. According to our partner organisation Viasna, there are currently well over a thousand political prisoners behind bars. Despite some releases, new prisoners are constantly being added.

In total, more than 3,700 people have been identified as political prisoners in Belarus since 2020. Among them are people like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bjaljazki, who simply demanded their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly. They are all being held unlawfully in Belarusian prisons. Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Belarusians who speak out against the war have become targets of repression by the Belarusian regime, too.

As part of the #WeStandBYyou campaign, Members of European parliaments are symbolically “adopting” political prisoners to show their solidarity with them, work towards their release, and draw attention to the difficult human rights situation in Belarus.

Under this slogan, we call on everyone to show solidarity with all people in Belarus who are committed to free and fair elections, the democratisation of the country, the rule of law and the protection of human rights. Anyone who stands with those facing political persecution in Belarus can express their solidarity on social media using the hashtag #WeStandBYyou. Feel free to use the campaign logo, too, which you can download below.

There are currently 429 active godparenthoods by MPs from 23 European parliaments and the European Parliament.

Since the start of the #WeStandBYyou campaign, we have arranged a total of 535 sponsorships for political prisoners. This has enabled us to provide prisoners’ relatives with political and diplomatic assistance as well as important mental support.

You are a member of a national or the European parliament and interested in “adopting” a political prisoner by becoming their symbolic godparent?

Please feel free to contact us directly with any questions you might have: belarus@libereco.org

To stay informed about the human rights situation, ongoing court cases, and current developments in Belarus, we work together withthe Human Rights Center Viasna, the political prisoners platform Politzek.me, the initiative Dissident.by, and the Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition.