August 9th is a significant date in the recent history of Belarus. Four years ago on this day, the presidential elections in Belarus took place.
The opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, won them. Belarusians solidarily voted against dictatorship and violence, against years of usurpation of power. However, the Central Election Commission declared Lukashenko the winner. This led to mass protests and large-scale political repression that continues to this day.
Today, at least 1,500 political prisoners are held in prisons across Belarus. They are in dire conditions—without medical assistance, correspondence, or packages. The treatment of these prisoners resembles the times of Nazi Germany or Stalinist labor camps. Dozens of prisoners have been sentenced to enormous, effectively life-long prison terms. Some have been incommunicado for a year or more (they have no contact with the outside world, and their families receive no information from them). According to human rights estimates, the number of people detained for political reasons since 2020 is around 50,000.
Lukashenko has not only declared war on his own people but has also isolated the country on the international stage. He has become an accomplice of Russia in the war against Ukraine. Through the forced landing of a plane and the migrant crisis at the border, he has damaged relations with neighboring EU countries, which are now erecting barriers against Belarus.
Today, Belarus is a black hole on the map of Europe. A country where fear and lawlessness prevail, a country that poses a threat to its neighbors and its own residents. Its citizens are leaving because they see no future for themselves and their children.
Today, Belarusians need help and solidarity more than ever. On August 9th, on our day of solidarity, express it on your social media.
Schedule of events dedicated to the Day of Solidarity with Belarus.
Thursday, August 8:
Prague, 18:30, film screening "Homeland — It's Mine" and discussion "Stolen Elections: Belarus in 4 Years," Václav Havel Library.
Irpen, 13:00, exhibition opening "With Ukraine in Heart," 4 Taras Shevchenko.
Helsinki, 17:00, lecture by Leonid Sudalenka at the Merikki Media Museum and Archives in Helsinki.
Friday, August 9:
Vilnius, 18:00, march and mass meeting, Cathedral Square.
Warsaw, 18:00, march, Plac Żelaznej Bramy.
Berlin, 18:00, exhibition "Mama, They Say I'm a Terrorist" by Katarina Bütgen, Haus der Statistik, Otto Braun Str.70-72.
Toronto, 19:30, special screening of the documentary by Andrei Kutsila "When Flowers Are Not Silent", 524 St. Clarens Ave.
Brussels, 13:45, mass meeting, gathering of participants at Place du Luxembourg, Brussels.
Boston, 18:00, film screening of Mari Tamkovich's "Under the Grey Sky", Harvard Davis Center, Tsai Auditorium (S010).
Saturday, August 10:
Warsaw, 18:00, first match of the 2024-2025 season for Pogoń Warsaw, Obrońcow Tobruku 1.
London, 13:00-14:30, protest action, Downing Street.
Boston, 18:00, film screening of "Under the Grey Sky", Harvard Davis Center.
Cologne, 13:30, gathering of participants at Köln Heumarkt. Details.
Sunday, August 11:
New York, 13:00, Sheep Meadow - Central Park. Details.
If you know of or are organizing an event, share the information via the bot.
The list of events will be updated on the website.
The opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, won them. Belarusians solidarily voted against dictatorship and violence, against years of usurpation of power. However, the Central Election Commission declared Lukashenko the winner. This led to mass protests and large-scale political repression that continues to this day.
Today, at least 1,500 political prisoners are held in prisons across Belarus. They are in dire conditions—without medical assistance, correspondence, or packages. The treatment of these prisoners resembles the times of Nazi Germany or Stalinist labor camps. Dozens of prisoners have been sentenced to enormous, effectively life-long prison terms. Some have been incommunicado for a year or more (they have no contact with the outside world, and their families receive no information from them). According to human rights estimates, the number of people detained for political reasons since 2020 is around 50,000.
Lukashenko has not only declared war on his own people but has also isolated the country on the international stage. He has become an accomplice of Russia in the war against Ukraine. Through the forced landing of a plane and the migrant crisis at the border, he has damaged relations with neighboring EU countries, which are now erecting barriers against Belarus.
Today, Belarus is a black hole on the map of Europe. A country where fear and lawlessness prevail, a country that poses a threat to its neighbors and its own residents. Its citizens are leaving because they see no future for themselves and their children.
Today, Belarusians need help and solidarity more than ever. On August 9th, on our day of solidarity, express it on your social media.
- Support the families and loved ones of political prisoners.
- Tweet and post in support of those repressed by the regime.
- Organize thematic events.
- Hold public, virtual, or offline events to discuss potential solutions and actions that the international community can take.
- Conduct pickets.
- Join pickets of solidarity with Belarusians abroad or organize your own.
Schedule of events dedicated to the Day of Solidarity with Belarus.
Thursday, August 8:
Prague, 18:30, film screening "Homeland — It's Mine" and discussion "Stolen Elections: Belarus in 4 Years," Václav Havel Library.
Irpen, 13:00, exhibition opening "With Ukraine in Heart," 4 Taras Shevchenko.
Helsinki, 17:00, lecture by Leonid Sudalenka at the Merikki Media Museum and Archives in Helsinki.
Friday, August 9:
Vilnius, 18:00, march and mass meeting, Cathedral Square.
Warsaw, 18:00, march, Plac Żelaznej Bramy.
Berlin, 18:00, exhibition "Mama, They Say I'm a Terrorist" by Katarina Bütgen, Haus der Statistik, Otto Braun Str.70-72.
Toronto, 19:30, special screening of the documentary by Andrei Kutsila "When Flowers Are Not Silent", 524 St. Clarens Ave.
Brussels, 13:45, mass meeting, gathering of participants at Place du Luxembourg, Brussels.
Boston, 18:00, film screening of Mari Tamkovich's "Under the Grey Sky", Harvard Davis Center, Tsai Auditorium (S010).
Saturday, August 10:
Warsaw, 18:00, first match of the 2024-2025 season for Pogoń Warsaw, Obrońcow Tobruku 1.
London, 13:00-14:30, protest action, Downing Street.
Boston, 18:00, film screening of "Under the Grey Sky", Harvard Davis Center.
Cologne, 13:30, gathering of participants at Köln Heumarkt. Details.
Sunday, August 11:
New York, 13:00, Sheep Meadow - Central Park. Details.
If you know of or are organizing an event, share the information via the bot.
The list of events will be updated on the website.
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