Already one month before the presidential elections in Belarus on 9 August, the German-Swiss human rights organisation Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights 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. Most of them have been released after a few days.
However, according to our Belarusian partner organisation Viasna, there are still more than 180 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 is now calling 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: Download the poster as PDF or JPG file here.
As part of the campaign, MPs of European parliaments take over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus and to work for their release.
125 Politicians have taken over a godparenthood so far
European Parliament:
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- Petras Austriavičius (Renew Europe, Lithuania) – Viktar Babaryka
Katarina Barley (Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Liliya Ulasava(released on 23 October)- Katarina Barley (Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Alana Gebremariam
- Nicola Beer (Free Democratic Party, Germany) – Hanna Sunhurava
- Robert Biedroń (Spring, Poland) – Illia Salei
Delara Burkhardt (Social Democratic Party, Germany) –Aleh Mazhou(released on 9 November)Viola von Cramon (Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) –Viarhili Ushak(released on 29 July)- Viola von Cramon (Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Artsiom Kasakouski
Tomasz Frankowski (Civic Platform, Poland) –Andrei Novikau(released on 26 November)- Tomasz Frankowski (Civic Platform, Poland) – Maryia Kalenik
- Michael Gahler (Christian Democratic Union, Germany) – Pavel Seviarynets
- Markéta Gregorová (Czech Pirate Party, Czech Republic) – Kasya Budzko
- Andrzej Halicki (Civic Platform, Poland) – Siarhei Korshun
- Rasa Juknevičienė (Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Lithuania) – Yury Ulasau
- Dietmar Köster (Social Democratic Party, Germany) – Alena Maushuk
- Sergey Lagodinsky (Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Maksim Znak
- Katrin Langensiepen (Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Anton Bialenski
- Lukas Mandl (Austrian People’s Party, Austria) – Dzianis Kireshchanka
- Erik Marquardt (Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Dzmitry Furmanau
- Niklas Nienaß (Alliance 90/The Greens, Germany) – Dzmitry Kazlou
- Andreas Schieder (Social Democratic Party, Austria) – Yury Savitski
- Radosław Sikorski (Civic Platform, Poland) – Siarhei Tsikhanouski
- Ivan Štefanec (Christian Democratic Movement, Slovakia) – Hleb Fitsner
- Tineke Strik (GreenLeft, The Netherlands) – Aliaksandr Aranovich
- Thomas Waitz (The Greens, Austria) – Ksenia Syramalot
German Bundestag:
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- Norbert Altenkamp (Christian Democratic Union) – Viktar Pantsialeyeu
- Lisa Badum (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Liavon Khalatran
- Matthias Bartke (Social Democratic Party) – Dzianis Dzemukh
- Margarete Bause (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Mikalai Statkevich
- Jens Brandenburg (Free Democratic Party) – Raman Kananowitsch
- Franziska Brantner (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Uladzimir Tsyhanovich
- Leni Breymaier (Social Democratic Party) – Dzmitry Dubkou
- Agnieszka Brugger (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Marfa Rabkova
- Karl-Heinz Brunner (Social Democratic Party) – Eduard Babaryka
- Sandra Bubendorfer-Licht (Free Democratic Party) – Mikhail Kalishuk
- Carl-Julius Cronenberg (Free Democratic Party) – Ivan Bahdzevich
Wiebke Esdar (Social Democratic Party) –Yulia Shardyka(released on 13 October)- Wiebke Esdar (Social Democratic Party) – Viktar Kuushynau
- Saskia Esken (Social Democratic Party) – Uladzislau Yeustsihneyeu
- Kai Gehring (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Rastsislau Stefanovich
- Stefan Gelbhaar (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Artsiom Khvashcheuski
- Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Andrei Chapiuk
- Ursula Groden-Kranich (Christian Democratic Union) – Pavel Piaskou
- Gregor Gysi (The Left) – Yauhen Kakhanouski
- Klaus-Dieter Gröhler (Christian Democratic Union) – Raman Bahnavets
Erhard Grundl (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Vitali Shkliarov(released on 19 October)- Erhard Grundl (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Tsimur Pipiya
- Florian Hahn (Christian Social Union) – Siarhei Bryl
- Jürgen Hardt (Christian Democratic Union) – Ihnat Sidorchyk
- Mark Hauptmann (Christian Democratic Union) – Ihar Salavei
Frank Heinrich (Christian Democratic Union) – Yury Vaskrasenski(released on 11 October)- Frank Heinrich (Christian Democratic Union) – Viachaslau Sheliamet
- Gabriela Heinrich (Social Democratic Party) – Yahor Suhoidz
Barbara Hendricks (Social Democratic Party) – Maryia Babovich(released on 8 December)- Rudolf Henke (Christian Democratic Union) – Siarhei Kapanets
- Heribert Hirte (Christian Democratic Union) – Viachaslau Rahashchuk
- Ottmar von Holtz (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Andrei Pazniak
- Gyde Jensen (Free Democratic Party) – Artsiom Sakau
- Ingmar Jung (Christian Democratic Union) – Pavel Niadbaila
- Frank Junge (Social Democratic Party) – Ihar Prazhennikau
- Roderich Kiesewetter (Christian Democratic Union) – Dzianis Marusevich
- Carina Konrad (Free Democratic Party) – Anastasiya Bulybenka
- Alexander Krauß (Christian Democratic Union) – David Mastsitski
- Gunther Krichbaum (Christian Democratic Union) – Artsiom Vinakurau
- Maria Klein-Schmeink (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Tamaz Pipiya
Carina Konrad (Free Democratic Party) – Viktar Shaura(released on 15 December)
- Lukas Köhler (Free Democratic Party) – Maksim Babich
- Karl Lamers (Christian Democratic Union) – Dzmitry Ivashkou
- Katja Leikert (Christian Democratic Union) – Antanina Kanavalava
- Sylvia Lehmann (Social Democratic Party) – Dzmitry Lastouski
- Oliver Luksic (Free Democratic Party) – Yahor Kanetski
- Gisela Manderla (Christian Democratic Union) – Mikhail Zhamchuzhny
- Matern von Marschall (Christian Democratic Union) – Dzmitry Kubarau
- Jürgen Martens (Free Democratic Party) – Uladzimir Dudarau
- Christoph Matschie (Social Democratic Party) – Yury Bialko
- Susanne Mittag (Social Democratic Party) – Sviatlana Kupreyeva
- Falko Mohrs (Social Democratic Party) – Mark Salonnikau
- Dietrich Monstadt (Christian Democratic Union) – Artur Khalimonchyk
- Alexander Müller (Free Democratic Party) – Stanislau Mikhailau
- Claudia Müller (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Akikhiro Hayeuski-Hanada
- Detlef Müller (Social Democratic Party) – Yauhen Dzmitryeu
- Ulli Nissen (Social Democratic Party) – Volha Klaskouskaya
- Konstantin von Notz (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Yan Salanovich
- Omid Nouripour (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Siarhei Piatrukhin
- Cem Özdemir (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Katsiaryna Barysevich
- Aydan Özoğuz (Social Democratic Party) – Tatsiana Kaneuskaya
- Christian Petry (Social Democratic Party) – Ihar Yarmolau
- Sabine Poschmann (Social Democratic Party) – Yaraslau Zbarouski
- Frank Müller-Rosentritt (Free Democratic Party) – Yauhen Prapolski
- René Röspel (Social Democratic Party) – Aliaksandr Vasilevich
- Claudia Roth (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Maria Kolesnikova
- Manuela Rottmann (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Maryia Nestserava
- Tabea Rößner (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Aliaksei Karatkou
- Johann Saathoff (Social Democratic Party) – Dzianis Boltuts
- Manuel Sarrazin (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Ihar Losik
- Wieland Schinnenburg (Free Democratic Party) – Yury Kuzmich
- Nils Schmid (Social Democratic Party) – Eduard Palchys
- Johannes Schraps (Social Democratic Party) – Pavel Yukhnevich
- Martin Schulz (Social Democratic Party) – Andrei Voinich
- Frank Schwabe (Social Democratic Party) – Aliaksandr Kabanau
- Katrin Staffler (Christian Social Union) – Dzmitry Kanapelka
- Bettina Stark-Watzinger (Free Democratic Party) – Aliaksandr Kisialiou
- Albert Stegemann (Christian Democratic Union) – Siarhei Liazhenka
- Andreas Steier (Christian Democratic Union) – Yauhen Afnahel
- Margit Stumpp (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Ivan Komar
- Johannes Vogel (Free Democratic Party) – Uladzimir Harokh
- Marja-Liisa Völlers (Social Democratic Party) – Andrei Papou
- Sandra Weeser (Free Democratic Party) – Mikita Hancharou
- Annette Widmann-Mauz (Christian Democratic Union) – Yana Arabeika
- Dirk Wiese (Social Democratic Party) – Aleh Rubets
- Gerhard Zickenheiner (Alliance 90/The Greens) – Uladzislau Karetski
Swiss National Council and Council of States:
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- Claudia Friedl (Social Democratic Party) – Siarhei Sparysh
- Tamara Funiciello (SP) – Mikalai Dziadok
- Nik Gugger (Evangelical People’s Party) – Uladzimir Niaronski
- Barbara Gysi (Social Democratic Party) – Natallia Hersche
- Lisa Mazzone (Green Party) – Dzmitry Karaka
- Fabian Molina (Social Democratic Party) – Aliaksandr Frantskevich
- Jon Pult (Social Democratic Party) – Uladzislau Martsinovich
- Marianne Streiff-Feller & Lilian Studer (Evangelical People’s Party) – Vital & Yahor Prakapchuk
- Céline Vara (Green Party) – Dmitry Popov
- Céline Widmer (Social Democratic Party) – Volha Filatchankava
Austrian National Council:
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- Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) – Mikalai Saseu
- Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (The Greens) – Maryna Hlazava
- Reinhold Lopatka (Austrian People’s Party) –Dzianis Chykaliou
- Gudrun Kugler (Austrian People’s Party) – Artsiom Sauchuk
Irish Lower House
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- Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) – Tatsiana Yakelchyk
- Denis Naughten (Independent) – Aliaksei Sanchuk
Belgian Chamber of Representatives:
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- Samuel Cogolati (Ecolo) – Aliaksandr Shabalin
Dutch House of Representatives:
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- Bram van Ojik (GreenLeft) – Daniil Bohnat
British House of Lords:
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- George Foulkes (Labour Party) – Stsiapan Latypau
(last updated: 20 January)