In July 2020, exactly one month before the presidential elections in Belarus on 9 August 2020, Libereco has launched the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou. As part of this campaign, members of European parliaments take over godparenthood for political prisoners in the EU neighbouring state.

After the rigged voting, after which the authoritarian head of state Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the winner, the situation has worsened. Thousands of people have been arbitrarily arrested during the ongoing and nationwide peaceful protests against Lukashenko.

According to our Belarusian partner organisation Viasna, there are currently over 900 people arrested who are threatened with long prison sentences just because of their political commitment. Among these political prisoners are members of the Coordination Council, members of election campaign teams of independent presidential candidates, members of the opposition, bloggers and demonstrators.

With the #WeStandBYyou campaign, Libereco calls for solidarity with all people in Belarus who are committed to free and fair elections, democratization of the country, the rule of law and respect for human rights. All those who stand at the side of the politically persecuted in Belarus can express their solidarity by using the hashtag #WeStandBYyou in the social media and spread the campaign motif there.

Join our campaign now and download the poster as PDF or JPG file here! If  you are a member of a national parliament and would like to take over a prisoner’s godparenthood, please contact us directly: info@lphr.org.

As part of the campaign, MPs of European parliaments take over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus and to work for their release.

To stay informed about the human rights situation, ongoing court cases and current developments in Belarus, we work together with the human rights organisation Viasna and the initiative Politzek.me.

267 Politicians have taken over a godparenthood so far

European Parliament:

    • Barry Andrews (Renew Europe; Fianna Fáil, Ireland) – Siarhei Kryuchenia
    • Thijs Reuten (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Labour Party, The Netherlands) – Uladzislau Makavetski
    • Margrete Auken (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Socialist People’s Party, Denmark) – Anatol Khinevich
    • Petras Austriavičius (Renew Europe; Liberal Movement, Lithuania) – Viktar Babaryka
    • Katarina Barley (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Alana Gebremariam
    • Nicola Beer (Renew Europe; Free Democratic Party, Germany) – Ales Bialiatski
    • Hildegard Bentele (European People’s Party; Christian Democratic Union, Germany) – Yan Falkin
    • Robert Biedroń (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Spring, Poland) – Andrzej Poczobut
    • Gabriele Bischoff (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Vitaliya Bandarenka
    • Delara Burkhardt (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Aleh Mazhou
    • Delara Burkhardt (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Katsiaryna Andreyeva
    • Deirdre Clune (European People’s Party; Fine Gael, Ireland) – Leu Tsialipka
    • Viola von Cramon (Greens/European Free Alliance; Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Artsiom Kasakouski
    • Jakop Dalunde (Greens/European Free Alliance; Environmental Party the Greens, Sweden) –  Aliaksandr Tseleshman
    • Frances Fitzgerald (European People’s Party; Fine Gael, Ireland) – Uladzimir Malakhouski
    • Tomasz Frankowski (European People’s Party; Civic Platform, Poland) – Andrei Novikau
    • Tomasz Frankowski (European People’s Party; Civic Platform, Poland) – Maryia Kalenik
    • Michael Gahler (European People’s Party; Christian Democratic Union, Germany) – Pavel Seviarynets
    • Evelyne Gebhardt (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Safiya Malashevich
    • Jens Geier (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Dzianis Urad
    • Markéta Gregorová (Greens/European Free Alliance; Czech Pirate Party, Czech Republic) – Kasya Budzko
    • Andrzej Halicki (European People’s Party; Civic Platform, Poland) – Siarhei Korshun
    • Hannes Heide (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Austria) – Raman Sidziuk
    • Monika Hohlmeier (European People’s Party; Christian Social Union, Germany) – Iryna Shchasnaya
    • Rasa Juknevičienė (European People’s Party; Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Lithuania) – Yury Ulasau
    • Billy Kelleher (European People’s Party; Fine Gael, Ireland) – Hleb Hatouka
    • Seán Kelly (European People’s Party; Fine Gael, Ireland) – Artsiom Miadzvedski
    • Dietmar Köster (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Alena Maushuk
    • Sergey Lagodinsky (Greens/European Free Alliance; Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Maksim Znak
    • Lukas Mandl (European Parliament, European People’s Party; Austrian People’s Party, Austria) – Henadz Mazheika
    • Colm Markey (European People’s Party; Fine Gael, Ireland) – Siarhei Maushuk
    • Karen Melchior (Renew Europe; Radical Liberals, Denmark) – Yauhen Kurhanau
    • Niklas Nienaß (Greens/European Free Alliance; Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Dzmitry Kazlou
    • Maria Noichl (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Volha Klimkova
    • Terry Reintke (Greens/European Free Alliance; Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Volha Zalatar
    • Isabel Santos (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Socialist Party, Portugal) – Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk
    • Andreas Schieder (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Austria) – Yury Savitski
    • Helmut Scholz (The Left in the European Parliament; The Left, Germany) – Nadzeya & Uladzimir Kalach
    • Radosław Sikorski (European People’s Party; Civic Platform, Poland) – Siarhei Tsikhanouski
    • Birgit Sippel (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Eduard Kudyniuk
    • Ivan Štefanec (European People’s Party; Christian Democratic Movement, Slovakia) – Hleb Fitsner
    • Tineke Strik (Greens/European Free Alliance; GreenLeft, The Netherlands) – Aliaksandr Aranovich
    • Sabine Verheyen (European People’s Party; Christian Democratic Union, Germany) – Ruslan Parfionau
    • Thomas Waitz (Greens/European Free Alliance; The Greens, Austria) – Ksenia Syramalot

German Bundestag:

Swiss National Council and Council of States:

Irish Upper and Lower House:

British House of Lords and House of Commons:

Austrian National Council:

Swedish Riksdag:

Scottish Parliament

Czech Chamber of Deputies:

Polish Senate

Dutch House of Representatives:

Belgian Chamber of Representatives:

Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada:

Former godparenthood

Released/deceased prisoners:

    • Viola von Cramon (Europäisches Parlament, Greens/European Free Alliance; Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Viarhili Ushak (released on 29 July 2020)
    • Frank Heinrich (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Yury Vaskrasenski (released on 11 October 2020)
    • Wiebke Esdar (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Yulia Shardyka (released on 13 October 2020)
    • Erhard Grundl (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Vitali Shkliarov (released on 19 October 2020)
    • Katarina Barley (Europäisches Parlament, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Liliya Ulasava (released on 23 October 2020)
    • Barbara Hendricks (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Maryia Babovich (released on 8 December 2020)
    • Lukas Köhler (German Bundestag, Free Democratic Party) – Maksim Babich (released on 21 December 2020)
    • Konstantin von Notz (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Yan Salanovich (released on 26 January 2021)
    • Gunther Krichbaum (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Artsiom Vinakurau (released on 29 January 2021)
    • Ottmar von Holtz (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Andrei Pazniak (released on 5 February 2021)
    • Frances Fitzgerald (Europäisches Parlament, European People’s Party; Fine Gael, Ireland) – Volha Paulava (released on 19 February 2021)
    • Gisela Manderla (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Mikhail Zhamchuzhny (released on 19 February 2021)
    • Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Austrian Nationalrat, The Greens) – Maryna Hlazava (released on 25 February 2021)
    • Jim O’Callaghan (Irish Parliament, Fianna Fáil) – Artsiom Sarokin (released on 2 March 2021)
    • Daniela Klucker (German Bundestag, Free Democratic Party) – Illia Palaniankin (released on 9 March 2021)
    • Reinhold Lopatka (Austrian Nationalrat, Austrian People’s Party) –Dzianis Chykaliou (released on 22 March 2021)
    • Robert Biedroń (Europäisches Parlament, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats; Spring, Poland) – Illia Salei (released on 16 April 2021)
    • Nicola Beer (Europäisches Parlament, Renew Europe; Free Democratic Party, Germany) – Hanna Sunhurava (released on 20 April 2021)
    • Cem Özdemir (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Katsiaryna Barysevich (released on 19 May 2021)
    • Seán Haughey (Irish Parliament, Fianna Fáil) – Vitold Ashurak (died in detention on 21 May 2021)
    • Gunther Krichbaum (Christian Democratic Union) – Aleh Hrableuski (released on 31 July 2021)
    • Laurent Wehrli (FDP. The Liberals) – Siarhei Drazdouski (released on 31 July 2021)
    • Stefan Gelbhaar (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Artsiom Khvashcheuski (released on 3 August 2021)
    • Martina Munz (Swiss National Council, Social Democratic Party) – Yuliya Slutskaya (released on 19 August 2021)
    • Valérie Piller Carrard (Swiss National Council, Social Democratic Party) – Ala Sharko (released on 19 August 2021)
    • Wiebke Esdar (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Viktar Kuushynau (released on 21 August 2021)
    • Daniela Kolbe (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Aliaksandr Babrou (released on 16 September 2021)
    • Saara Hyrkkö (Finnish Parliament, Green League) – Yuliya Kashaverava (released on 16 September 2021)
    • Susanne Mittag (Social Democratic Party) – Sviatlana Kupreyeva (released on 11 October 2021)
    • Lisa Mazzone (Green Party) – Dzmitry Karaka (released on 11 October 2021)
    • Erik Marquardt (European Parliament, Greens/European Free Alliance; Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Dzmitry Furmanau (released 21 October 2021)
    • Valérie Piller Carrard (Swiss National Council, Social Democratic Party) – Dzmitry Shymanski (released on 29 October 2021)
    • Katrin Langensiepen (European Parliament, Greens/European Free Alliance; Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Anton Bialenski (released on 29 October 2021)
    • Lukas Mandl (European Parliament, European People’s Party; Austrian People’s Party, Austria) – Dzianis Kireshchanka (released on 30 October 2021)
    • Rasmus Andresen (Greens/European Free Alliance; Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Igor Bancer (released on 17 December 2021)
    • Sabine Poschmann (Social Democratic Party) – Yaraslau Zbarouski (released in January 2022)

Former Members of parliaments:

    • Margarete Bause (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Mikalai Statkevich
    • Matthias Bartke (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Dzianis Dzemukh
    • Karl-Heinz Brunner (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Eduard Babaryka
    • Klaus-Dieter Gröhler (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Raman Bahnavets
    • Ursula Groden-Kranich (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Pavel Piaskou
    • Mark Hauptmann (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Yauhen Dzmitryeu
    • Frank Heinrich (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Viachaslau Sheliamet
    • Rudolf Henke (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Siarhei Kapanets
    • Heribert Hirte (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Viachaslau Rahashchuk
    • Ottmar von Holtz (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Aliaksandr Babich
    • Ralf Kapschack (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Raman Hvazdziolka
    • Alexander Krauß (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – David Mastsitski
    • Karl Lamers (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Dzmitry Ivashkou 
    • Gisela Manderla (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Tatsiana Lasitsa 
    • Matern von Marschall (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Dzmitry Kubarau
    • Christoph Matschie (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Yury Bialko
    • Jürgen Martens (German Bundestag, Free Democratic Party) – Uladzimir Dudarau
    • Klaus Mindrup (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Viktar Siadou
    • Ulli Nissen (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Volha Klaskouskaya
    • Bram van Ojik (Tweede Kamer, Groenlinks, Netherlands) – Daniil Bohnat
    • René Röspel (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Aliaksandr Vasilevich
    • Manuel Sarrazin (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Ihar Losik
    • Wieland Schinnenburg (German Bundestag, Free Democratic Party) – Yury Kuzmich
    • Martin Schulz (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Andrei Voinich
    • Andreas Steier (German Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union) – Yauhen Afnahel
    • Margit Stumpp (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Ivan Komar
    • Gabi Weber (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) – Yauhen Hovar
    • Gerhard Zickenheiner (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) – Uladzislau Karetski

(last updated: 18 January 2022)