I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States, who are members of the Informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus:
– Belgium
– Bulgaria
– Canada
– Croatia
– Czechia
– Cyprus
– Denmark
– Estonia
– Finland
– France
– Germany
– Greece
– Iceland
– Ireland
– Italy
– Latvia
– Lithuania
– Luxembourg
– Montenegro
– the Netherlands
– Norway
– Portugal
– Romania
– Slovenia
– Spain
– Sweden
– Ukraine
– the United Kingdom
– Poland
The following participating States are also joining this statement:
– Albania
– Austria
– Bosnia and Herzegovina
– Liechtenstein
– Malta
– Moldova
– North Macedonia
– San Marino
– Switzerland
Background:
– International Day of Solidarity: We mark the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus annually since the death of Vitold Ashurak in prison on May 21, 2021.
– Deaths of Political Prisoners: Since May 2021, at least seven more political prisoners have died in the regime’s captivity, including Mikalai Klimovich, Ales Pushkin, Vadzim Khrasko, Ihar Lednik, Aliaksandr Kulinich, Dmitry Schletgauer, and Valiantsin Shtermer.
Human Rights Concerns:
– Arbitrary Detention: The arbitrary detention of citizens for exercising their human rights persists, with VIASNA estimating 1189 political prisoners in Belarus as of May 15, 2025.
– Health Issues: Many prisoners have serious health issues, disabilities, are over the age of 60, and are suffering from mental disorders.
– Torture and Ill-Treatment: The UN Committee against Torture reported that torture in these prisons is systemic, habitual, widespread, and deliberate with a pattern of impunity for perpetrators.
Call to Action:
– Release Political Prisoners: We call on the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, and to ensure their rehabilitation.
– Stop Repression: We urge the authorities to stop repressing individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
– Support for Relatives and Friends: We express our solidarity with relatives and friends of political prisoners, who are subject to political and administrative repression in Belarus and in exile.
Conclusion:
– Solidarity with the Belarusian People: We will continue to support the Belarusian people’s aspiration for a free, democratic, and independent Belarus, in line with OSCE principles and commitments.
