As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, Annette Widmann-Mauz (CDU), Dietrich Monstadt (CDU) and Rudolf Henke (CDU) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.

Yana Arabeika is an activist of the Belarusian Students Association (BSA) and a student of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University. She was detained on November 12 and charged under Article 342 of the Belarusian Criminal Code for having disturbed public order.

Annette Widmann-Mauz

Annette Widmann-Mauz, Member of the German Bundestag and Minister of State to the Chancellor, has taken over the godparenthood for Yana Arabeika and stated: “For many weeks and months, people have been demonstrating peacefully in Belarus for democracy, freedom and the rule of law. Yana Arabeika, a student from Minsk, has also demonstrated on the streets peacefully and expressed her displeasure with the political conditions; she has been in custody since 12 November. Courageous women like Yana Arabeika stand up for a better future of their country. Her exemplary striving for freedom and democracy has earned our solidarity and deepest respect.  That is why I call for the immediate release of political prisoners in Belarus.”

Artur Khalimonchyk was detained in Pinsk on August 10 and charged under Article 293 (“participation in mass riots”) of the Belarusian Criminal Code. He is being held in the pre-trial prison in Baranavičy.

Dietrich Monstadt

Dietrich Monstadt, Member of the German Bundestag, has taken over the godparenthood for Artur Khalimonchyk. On this occasion he stated: “The Belarusian people are still fighting for democracy in their country. The demonstrators are demanding fair and free new elections. For this, they deserve our respect and full support. I join the demands to release the mostly young people who are unjustly imprisoned. It is an honour for me to take over the godparenthood for Artur Khalimonchyk. Artur was arrested on 10 August in the city of Pinsk. He is accused of being involved in “mass riots”. I demand his immediate release, as well as that of all other wrongfully arrested political prisoners.”

Siarhei Kapanets was detained following the events of August 9-13. Kapanets was later charged under Article 293 (“participation in mass riots”) of the Belarusian Criminal Code.

Rudolf Henke

Rudolf Henke, Member of the German Bundestag, has taken over the godparenthood for Siarhei Kapanets and stated: “I immediately demand the release of Siarhei Kapanets and all other political prisoners who have been imprisoned in connection with their critics of the presidential election and the resulting protests in Belarus. Siarhei Kapanets, like many other people, has stood up for his fundamental right to freedom of expression and assembly. No one should be imprisoned without due process merely for demonstrating peacefully against Lukashenka’s regime. His regime is illegitimate.”