Opposition leader calls for support of political prisoners on solidarity day

May 21, Pozirk. Belarusians should prioritize helping jailed victims of politically-motivated reprisals, opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has said in her video address on the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus.
Those who are free may consider joining support networks, donating to charity funds, holding solidarity events, helping human rights groups document reprisals and rights violations and sharing information via social media, she stressed.
“We may be tired and confused by the events around us but people behind bars sacrifice every day of their lives for a free Belarus,” Cichanoŭskaja noted. “Today, you and I represent their voices and their hopes. We have no right to let our heroes down.”
Alaksandar Łukašenka sees people as “expendable material, which has no value” and this is the reason people keep dying behind bars, she said.
The International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus on May 21 commemorates Vitold Ašurak who died under unclear circumstances in prison on this day three years ago.
At least five more political prisoners have died in in captivity since then: Mikałaj Klimovič, Aleś Puškin, Vadzim Chraśko, Ihar Lednik and Alaksandar Kulinič.
“All political prisoners must be unconditionally freed and rehabilitated,” said the European External Action Service in an X message marking the day.

Šarenda-Panasiuk may face new charges after serving prison term
- PoliticsRyžankoŭ meets with Botswana’s top diplomatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityZapad-2025 moved inland, scaled down, Łukašenka confirmsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkrainian man sentenced to six years for attempting to smuggle draft dodger to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityPoland’s Tusk calls for tougher measures to stop asylum seekersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ deficit in goods trade widens to $2.6 billion in January-MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security, SocietyDrones, energetic materials new majors in Belarusian higher educationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka accuses West of militarization ahead of Zapad 2025 drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyPrivate companies’ overdue loan debt rises six-fold year on yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyIndividuals’ overdue debt on loans up 23.6 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityDead Eritrean found near shared border with Latvia, Belarus saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsGerman MPs join For a Democratic Belarus group’s new lineupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPutin’s crony delivering goods from occupied Ukraine to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: concerns grow over jailed pundit Kaściuhova’s healthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyLibyan delegation in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyUpper house approves fines for vegetable shortagesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka says Belarusians should be grateful to his government for staying out warThe material is available only to POZIRK+