Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the Third Congress on Political Prisoners of Belarus #WithoutJustCause, which opened today in Vilnius.
As reported by Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, she recalled that the release of hundreds of political prisoners became possible thanks to the solidarity of Belarusians, the work of human rights defenders and international pressure.
In her speech, she expressed gratitude to the United States, the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland for supporting Belarusian political prisoners and their families. She also thanked American diplomats for their leadership in the diplomatic process of securing the release of detainees and expressed appreciation to the human rights organisations Viasna and Human Rights House, the International Humanitarian Fund, the Libereco programme, Freedom House, volunteers, lawyers, psychologists and initiatives assisting repressed and released Belarusians. She also highlighted the work of the congress organisers, Krystsina Shyianok, the Prague Office of the Democratic Forces of Belarus and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
Tsikhanouskaya also reminded the audience about those who remain behind bars, stressing the importance of continuing international pressure on the regime and support for the families of political prisoners. She noted that even after release, people need rehabilitation, assistance and solidarity.
“The very fact that political prisoners have begun to regain their freedom is our great shared achievement. Political prisoners are not an abstract figure in Instagram posts or Facebook publications. They are thousands of personal stories, dreams and hopes. The regime is trying to erase them. Our task is to return to political prisoners their stories, faces and voices,” she said.
The congress brought together former political prisoners, relatives of detainees, human rights defenders, diplomats, journalists, representatives of civic initiatives and international partners to discuss methods of human rights work and explore new ways of supporting political prisoners.
