BySol votes to retain Stryžak after sexual harassment probe

September 24, Pozirk. Andrej Stryžak, co-founder of the BySol Solidarity Foundation, will continue working with the initiative in a “limited format,” without managerial or representative functions, until next March, BySol announced following a sexual harassment probe.

Founding functions have been transferred to Vitalius Mockus, with BySol noting that Stryžak can no longer represent the foundation officially. The team said his conduct will be reassessed at the end of the six-month period.

BySol’s internal commission had recommended dismissing Stryžak after reviewing 12 harassment complaints, but the team ultimately voted to keep him.

Stryžak did not take part in the vote and rejected the commission’s recommendation as “excessive and disproportionate in both substance and procedure.” He also expressed a “personal commitment to remedy the harm caused.”

Despite BySol’s announcement of management reforms, three of its members resigned today.

Stryžak was suspended in late July following the launch of an internal investigation into sexual harassment allegations.

The foundation raises donations for victims of political persecution in Belarus and assists Belarusians targeted by the authorities for political reasons in evacuating from the country.