The forum is dedicated to human rights and fundamental freedoms in the OSCE region, as well as the consequences of ongoing events and trends for regional security. Delegates from member countries, experts, activists, and representatives of civil society are participating in the discussions.
At the side event titled “Political Prisoners in Belarus: Joint Efforts for Their Release,” the democratic leader of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and the representative for social policy of the United Transitional Cabinet and head of “A Country to Live in” foundation, Volha Zazulinskaya, spoke.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on OSCE member countries to support the case that Lithuania has submitted to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. This will allow holding Lukashenka and his accomplices accountable. Additionally, she highlighted the ongoing repressions carried out by Lukashenka’s regime:
"Since July, 115 people have been released, but another 142 have been recognized as political prisoners. The main message we want to hear and must demand is the end of repression. If the regime wants any concessions — although we still don’t know exactly what they want — let them continue to release people and stop taking new hostages."
Volha Zazulinskaya presented the horrifying statistics of political persecution in Belarus:
“The regime has done everything possible to silence our voices. For any comment we previously gave to independent media, we could be arrested and imprisoned. For any assistance we receive, we could be arrested and imprisoned. It is important for us to be heard. So our message to the outside world is this: don’t back down, don’t give up your positions, keep the pressure on the regime. Don’t allow the page to be turned. Help us free political prisoners, help us stop the repression!”
At the end of her speech, Volha Zazulinskaya addressed the participants of the discussion:
“Soon, a trial will begin for the political prisoner and mother of two children, Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk. This will be her third trial under Article 411, without ever leaving the colony. Palina sends us the message that she has almost no strength left to fight for her freedom and asks all of us to fight alongside her! Palina needs our support!”
The Warsaw OSCE Human Dimension Conference will conclude on October 11.
At the side event titled “Political Prisoners in Belarus: Joint Efforts for Their Release,” the democratic leader of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and the representative for social policy of the United Transitional Cabinet and head of “A Country to Live in” foundation, Volha Zazulinskaya, spoke.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on OSCE member countries to support the case that Lithuania has submitted to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. This will allow holding Lukashenka and his accomplices accountable. Additionally, she highlighted the ongoing repressions carried out by Lukashenka’s regime:
"Since July, 115 people have been released, but another 142 have been recognized as political prisoners. The main message we want to hear and must demand is the end of repression. If the regime wants any concessions — although we still don’t know exactly what they want — let them continue to release people and stop taking new hostages."
Volha Zazulinskaya presented the horrifying statistics of political persecution in Belarus:
- “More than 1,400 political prisoners — and that’s only those known to human rights defenders. Of them, 175 are women.
- Since 2020, nearly 7,000 politically motivated criminal cases have been initiated against Belarusians.
- More than 1,500 people have been released from places of detention, having fully or partially served their sentences. All political prisoners, without exception, are subjected to various forms of torture and humiliation, deprived of the right to a fair trial and legal defense.
- Since 2020, six political prisoners have died in Belarusian colonies and prisons: Vitold Ashurak, Mikhail Klimovich, Ales Pushkin, Vadim Khrasko, Ihar Lednik, and Aliaksandr Kulinich. These deaths are a direct result of inhumane conditions of detention.
- Seven people are incommunicado — these are Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Mikalai Statkevich, Maria Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, Ihar Losik, Maksim Znak, and Uladzimir Kniga. They have no access to a lawyer, do not receive parcels or medical supplies, and are deprived of the right to correspondence with their families or other external contacts.”
“The regime has done everything possible to silence our voices. For any comment we previously gave to independent media, we could be arrested and imprisoned. For any assistance we receive, we could be arrested and imprisoned. It is important for us to be heard. So our message to the outside world is this: don’t back down, don’t give up your positions, keep the pressure on the regime. Don’t allow the page to be turned. Help us free political prisoners, help us stop the repression!”
At the end of her speech, Volha Zazulinskaya addressed the participants of the discussion:
“Soon, a trial will begin for the political prisoner and mother of two children, Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk. This will be her third trial under Article 411, without ever leaving the colony. Palina sends us the message that she has almost no strength left to fight for her freedom and asks all of us to fight alongside her! Palina needs our support!”
The Warsaw OSCE Human Dimension Conference will conclude on October 11.
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