"The United States stands with the people of Belarus as they seek a future based on the rule of law, respect for human rights, and an accountable, democratically elected government. We reiterate our strong desire to see the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and call on Belarus to meet its international legal obligations, as well as its commitments to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms."

U.S. State Department

#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.state.gov/over-1500-political-prisoners-in-belarus/

"Putin's Russia was, is, and will threaten Belarusian statehood and independence. Documents published by journalists show that the Kremlin's plan is to establish complete control over Belarus. And this plan is already being implemented by Lukashenka-Putin’s axis alliance."

Franak Viacorka.

#ZhiyeBelarus
#PutinsWar

A full English translation of the closing statements of the three Viasna/ Spring96 human rights defenders on trial in Minsk, Belarus. They are likely to be sentenced to between 9 and 12 years on unfounded and unproven charges of financial impropriety, but they will speak, and be heard.

#ZhiyeBelarus

https://spring96.org/en/news/110790

"The Lukashenko regime has no future. What future are we talking about when he has already completely brought the country to the bottom?

I don’t know how much time is left for him, but every day his term is shortening - although I do not know when it will end. I am afraid it will end very badly for Lukashenko himself and his cronies."

Aliaksandr Herasemenia,
Exiled Belarusian activist and Olympic medallist.

#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.fairplanet.org/story/activism-in-exile-belarusian-olympic-medalist-speaks-out/?s=09

The real reason Ales Bialiatski is in jail in Belarus is because he stands up for human rights and against Lukashenka's dictatorial regime.
The trial is a complete sham, but in case you're interested, the charges against him relate to unfounded and unproven accusations of smuggling in cash from abroad to fund his Viasna human rights organisation. A charge which he is likely to receive a 12 year sentence for.

#FreeAlesBialiatski
#ZhiyeBelarus

"In Belarus, the Lieninski District Court of Minsk started to hear the closing arguments in Viasna trial. The prosecution is seeking to sentence the Nobel Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski to 12 years in a penal colony."

#ZhiyeBelarus
#FreeAlesBialiatski

https://spring96.org/en/news/110710?s=09

"Today, we mark 2.5 years of peaceful protest in Belarus for democracy & freedom since the stolen election. Every day Belarusians continue to stand up against the regime. Their bravery gives me strength & sustains my hope – as does the global support & solidarity for our people."

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

#ZhiyeBelarus

"Lukashenka has turned Belarus into a regime camp, where Nobel Prize winners, human rights activists, journalists, priests, poets, scientists, athletes, trade unionists, pregnant women, minors, cancer patients, and many, many others are imprisoned for political reasons. Now he is trying to build a prison of the mind for those who escaped him but who continue the struggle from abroad."

Pavel Slunkin

#ZhiyeBelarus

https://ecfr.eu/article/a-prison-of-the-mind-lukashenkas-pursuit-of-exiled-belarusians/?s=09

In Belarus, thousands of human rights activists called for freedom from political oppression. They were locked up in jail.

Ales Bialiatski, human rights defender, went to court to represent the political activists.
He was locked up in jail.

Viatel Brahinets, human rights lawyer, went to court to represent Ales Bialiatski.
He was locked up in jail.

#ZhiyeBelarus
#FreeAlesBialiatski
#FreeViatelBrahinets

https://spring96.org/en/news/110623?s=09

"I am saddened by the news that another Belarusian volunteer died fighting for Ukraine. Eduard Lobau was a former political prisoner who was held in one of the worst prisons. We won't forget his sacrifice for the freedom of Ukraine & Belarus. He will stay in our hearts forever!"

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

#ZhiyeBelarus
#SlavaUkraini

"Directly involved in the fighting or not, Belarus requires greater attention. Lukashenko’s odious regime plainly poses a continuing threat to western security as well as its own citizens. It’s another reason to defeat Russia. Vanquish Putin and it’s a good bet his thuggish vassal will fall, too."

#ZhiyeBelarus
#SlavaUkraini

"Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, elected president in 2020 in a contest stolen by Belarus’s dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, was accused of treason by a court in Minsk last week. Her trial is a sham and a farce. The opposition leader is one among countless victims of an illegitimate rogue regime that oppresses its people and threatens the security of Europe."

#SviatlanaTsikhanouskaya
#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/22/observer-view-belarus-rogue-regime-relationship-russia?s=09

Well-known Belarusian singer Meryem Hera, has gone on trial in Minsk for singing a song by the popular Ukrainian group Okean Elzy -- in Ukrainian -- in a Minsk bar in August. Herasimenka was arrested and twice sentenced to 15 days in jail before a criminal case was launched against her on a charge of "actively participating in group actions that grossly violate public order." If convicted, the 28-year-old entertainer could face up to four years in prison.

#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.rferl.org/amp/belarus-meryem-hera-ukraine-song-prison/32230733.html

Darya Losik has been sentenced to 2 years in prison in Belarus this morning.
Here is an article from yesterday outlining her 'crimes' and the court proceedings against her.

#FreeDaryaLosik
#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.rferl.org/amp/belarus-darya-losik-rferl/32229068.html

Darya Losik, the wife of jailed RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik, has been sentenced to two years in prison on a charge of 'facilitating extremist activity'.

Darya Losik 'facilitated extremist activity' by giving an interview to Polish Belsat T.V. channel in which she described herself as the wife of a political prisoner.

Speaking the truth is now a crime in Belarus.

#FreeDaryaLosik
#ZhiyeBelarus

"Exiled democratic leader of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, emphasized that she considers the procedure of court proceedings in absentia to be a violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Exiled Belarusian politician, Pavel Latushka, refused the lawyer assigned to him. The Investigative Committee is trying to create the appearance of legitimacy, but it is not succeeding, he argued."

#ZhiyeBelarus

https://spring96.org/en/news/110455?s=09

"I conspired with millions of Belarusian voters to seize democratic power from a dictator who has turned our country into a vassal state of President Vladimir Putin’s Russia. I only became a presidential candidate because Lukashenko’s secret police locked up my husband, Siarhai, for daring to oppose him. And now I find myself fighting to rally our country’s democrats in the face of unprecedented efforts to silence them."

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

#ZhiyeBelarus https://mastodonapp.uk/@ProjectFearlessness/109704225772530075

“Lukashenko is already fully participating in the war. But the fact that our troops have not been sent to Ukraine is not because Lukashenko doesn’t want to participate. He knows Belarusians don’t see Ukrainians as enemies."

“If Lukashenko gives the order to participate what would happen? Massive disobedience, strikes and people fleeing Belarus as fast as they can. That is why I doubt Lukashenko is going to give this order.”

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya,

#ZhiyeBelarus

https://www.ft.com/content/0904bdfa-828f-4674-8a14-185f2ab9f155?s=09

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on her bogus trial and the brutal repression of the media and human rights activists in Belarus.

#ZhiyeBelarus
#JournalismIsNotACrime
#HumanRights

https://www.politico.eu/article/sviatlana-tsikhanouskaya-belarus-lukashenko-opposition-leader-exiled-media-needs-our-help/?s=09

"I conspired with millions of Belarusian voters to seize democratic power from a dictator who has turned our country into a vassal state of President Vladimir Putin’s Russia. I only became a presidential candidate because Lukashenko’s secret police locked up my husband, Siarhai, for daring to oppose him. And now I find myself fighting to rally our country’s democrats in the face of unprecedented efforts to silence them."

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

#ZhiyeBelarus