7 Members of the Norwegian Parliament take on a godparenthood for imprisoned trade union activists

As part of our solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou, Kirsti Bergstø, Marian Hussein, Audun Lysbakken, Ingrid Fiskaa, Birgit Oline Kjerstad, Freddy André Øvstegård and Andreas Sjalg Unneland (all members of the Norwegian Storting, Sosialistisk Venstreparti) are supporting those who suffer from political repression.

Aliaksandr Kapshul is a member of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of Miners and Chemical Workers and worked as a legal adviser at JSC Naftan and Polymir in Novopolock. He was arrested in Russia on 25 September 2021 and handed over to the KGB officers of Belarus, who secretly brought him to Minsk, bypassing the official extradition procedure. Kapshul was detained as part of the investigation of a criminal case under Art. 356 (“high treason”) against several workers from Belarusian factories who supported local strikes after the rigged elections in August 2020 and were members of the Rabochy Rukh initiative. Aliaksandr was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. 

Kirsti Bergstø is a Member of the Norwegian Parliament and leader of the Socialist Left Party of Norway. She has taken on the godparenthood for Aliaksandr Kapshul and says: “Aliaksandr Kapshul has been imprisoned for standing up for democracy in Belarus. Strikes are a legal means and justice depends on strong and vocal trade unions. My deepest solidarity goes to the courageous people in Belarus who continue the fight for democracy despite the threat of arrest and brutal violence committed by the Belarusian state. I strongly condemn the human rights violations of the Belarus state. As godparent I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Aliaksandr Kapshul.”

 

Aliaksandr Kandratsiuk is a member of the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB). Prior to his arrest on 5 September 2022, he worked as a junior researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Kandratsiuk is accused of violating Art. 368 (“insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus”), Art. 396 (“insulting a government official”) and Art. 130 (“incitement to hatred”) of the Belarusian Criminal Code. He was sentenced to 3.5 years of  imprisonment.

Marian Hussein is a Member of the Norwegian Parliament and of the Norwegian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Hussein has taken on the godparenthood for Aliaksandr Kandratsiuk and states: “Aliaksandr Kandratsiuk was imprisoned for standing up for democracy in Belarus. Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right and trade unions are legal and crucial in the fight for justice. My solidarity goes to the courageous people in Belarus who continue the fight for democracy despite the threat of arrests and brutal violence. I strongly condemn the authoritative Belarus state. As godparent I call for the immediately and unconditionally release of Aliaksandr Kandratsiuk.”

 

Siarhei Sliazhou is one of the founders of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union at the metallurgical plant in Zhlobin. Almost all trade union activists at the plant were fired for their political opinion. Sliazhou was arrested on 29 September 2021 for comments he made on the Internet following the deaths of KGB officer Dzmitry Fedosiuk and Andrei Zeltzer. He was sentenced to 3 years under Art. 368 (“insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus”) and Art. 130 (“incitement to hatred”) of the Belarusian Criminal Code.

Audun Lysbakken, a member of the Norwegian Parliament,has taken on the godparenthood for Siarhei Sliazhou. He declares: “My deepfelt solidarity with Siarhei Sliazhou who has been imprisoned for using his legal right to freedom of speech. Trade unions are the backbone of every just society and I support all courageous Belarus people who stand up for democracy and justice. I have taken on the godparenthood of Siarhei Sliazhou and demand the immediate release of him and other political prisoners in Belarus”. 

 

Volha Barushka  is a member of the Belarusian Free Trade Union and served as an anesthesiologist-resuscitator at the Minsk Scientific and Practical Center for Surgery, Transplantology and Hematology. She was detained on 22 August 2022 for comments on the Internet. Volha was charged under Art. 369 and Art. 391 for insulting representatives of the authorities and was sentenced to 2 years in a penal colony.  

Ingrid Fiskaa is Vice-President of the Norwegian Parliament and a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. She has taken on the godparenthood for Volha Barushka . Fiskaa states: “Barushka Volha was imprisoned for standing up for democracy in Belarus. Freedom of speech is a human right and fundamental in all democracies. My deepfelt solidarity goes to Barushka and other courageous trade union activists fighting the human right violations in Belarus. As her godparent I call for the immediate release of Barushka Volha and other political prisoners in Belarus.”

 

Yauhen Batura is a member of the Belarusian Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM) and worked as an engineer at the Minsk Tractor Works before being dismissed for his political positions after 23 years at the factory. He was detained on 29 June 2022 for his participation in a protest action in 2020 and charged under Art. 342 for participating in “group acts that grossly violate public order”. He was sentenced to two years of restricted freedom.  

Birgit Oline Kjerstad is a member of the Norwegian Parliament. She has taken on the godparenthood of Yauhen Batura and declares: “Yauhen Batura was imprisoned for standing up for democracy in Belarus. Peacefull protest is a legal right and fundamental to all democracies of the world. My deepfelt solidarity with Yauhen and all courageous trade union activists in Belarus who fight the authoritative state. As his godparent I demand the immediate release Yauhen Batura.

 

Aliaksei Zabiran is a member of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of Miners and Chemical Workers and worked at the JSC Grodno Azot. He was arrested on 4 November 2021 and sentenced to 3 years in prison for “insulting a government official” (Art. 369),  “insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus” (Art. 368) and “incitement to hatred” (Art. 130).

Freddy André Øvstegård is chairman of The Standing Committee on Labour and Social Affairs and has taken on the godparenthood of Aliaksei Zabiran. Øvstegård states: “Aliaksei Zabiran was imprisoned for using the freedom of speech – a fundamental right in all democracies. I condemn the human right violations of the Belarus state and give my full solidarity to Aliaksei and other trade union activists in Belarus who courageous stand up for democracy. As his godparent I demand the immediate release of Aliaksei Zabiran and all other political prisoners of Belarus. 

 

Andrei Shulhat is also a member of the Belarusian Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM) and used to work at the Minsk Tractor Plant before he was detained on 29 September 2021. Shulhat is imprisoned for “Insulting a government official” (Art. 369) and “Incitement to hatred” (Art. 130) by commenting on the deaths of Andrei Zeltser and a KGB officer. He is still awaiting trial.

Andreas Sjalg Unneland is a member of the Standing Committee on Justice. He has taken on the godparenthood of Andrei Shulhat and says: “Andrei Shulhat is in prison for raising his voice against an authoritarian regime. Freedom of speech is fundamental in all democracies. I strongly condemn the human rights violations of the Belarus regime. As his godparent I demand the immediate release of Andrei Shulhat and all other political prisoners in Belarus.