On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with Belarusian Political Prisoners, the Office of Democratic Forces of Belarus in Prague, Belarusian human rights defenders, activists, and democratic forces are organizing a Congress on the issues of political prisoners. The event will take place on May 23-25 in Prague.
The leader of "A Country to Live in" foundation, Volha Zazulinskaya, shared her expectations from the Congress.
- Who will specifically participate in the Congress?
- Representatives of the human rights sector, various foundations and organizations working in the field of assistance to political prisoners and their families, representatives of democratic forces, politicians, relatives of political prisoners, and former political prisoners will participate in the Сongress. Additionally, representatives of independent media, international organizations, and European politicians will also attend.
- In your opinion, who can solve the problem of releasing political prisoners, and what measures need to be taken for this?
- I believe that events like this one, with a broad range of participants, are precisely for addressing such issues. The question of releasing political prisoners is not one with a simple answer. We need to gather and discuss, search for options, share our visions, and come to a reasonable solution. The most important thing in such a sensitive topic is to avoid manipulation. This is a pressing issue for all Belarusians, very painful, and we need to consider the positions of various sides, focusing primarily on the families of political prisoners and those who have already served their terms and been released.
- Support for political prisoners upon release - why is this important?
- In my opinion, it's important to support political prisoners at all stages. When they are in captivity, we must support their families, as there is a significant financial burden (lawyers, care parcels). If there are children in the families, and one of the breadwinners is in prison, for many, these are simply unaffordable expenses. That's why they rely on us and our solidarity.
After people are released, they need health rehabilitation. There should also be a post-release socialization program. The necessity of this should be considered on an individual basis; each case requires a specific approach to designing such a program. Additionally, it's important to consider that every released political prisoner needs assistance from psychologists or therapists, and therapy, especially prolonged, requires significant resources.
First and foremost, I would like to hear from people whose relatives are in captivity. I would also like to talk to those who have experience being in prison. This is what we rely on in our daily work. As the head of the Foundation, it's important for me to constantly work with new inquiries, listen, and most importantly, hear people, gather problematic questions, and respond to new challenges. We have been in close contact with the families of political prisoners for 3.5 years now, but the practice of repression in the country changes every day, so we need to keep our finger on the pulse every minute.
For questions about participation in the Congress, please write to the address provided.
The leader of "A Country to Live in" foundation, Volha Zazulinskaya, shared her expectations from the Congress.
- Who will specifically participate in the Congress?
- Representatives of the human rights sector, various foundations and organizations working in the field of assistance to political prisoners and their families, representatives of democratic forces, politicians, relatives of political prisoners, and former political prisoners will participate in the Сongress. Additionally, representatives of independent media, international organizations, and European politicians will also attend.
- In your opinion, who can solve the problem of releasing political prisoners, and what measures need to be taken for this?
- I believe that events like this one, with a broad range of participants, are precisely for addressing such issues. The question of releasing political prisoners is not one with a simple answer. We need to gather and discuss, search for options, share our visions, and come to a reasonable solution. The most important thing in such a sensitive topic is to avoid manipulation. This is a pressing issue for all Belarusians, very painful, and we need to consider the positions of various sides, focusing primarily on the families of political prisoners and those who have already served their terms and been released.
- Support for political prisoners upon release - why is this important?
- In my opinion, it's important to support political prisoners at all stages. When they are in captivity, we must support their families, as there is a significant financial burden (lawyers, care parcels). If there are children in the families, and one of the breadwinners is in prison, for many, these are simply unaffordable expenses. That's why they rely on us and our solidarity.
After people are released, they need health rehabilitation. There should also be a post-release socialization program. The necessity of this should be considered on an individual basis; each case requires a specific approach to designing such a program. Additionally, it's important to consider that every released political prisoner needs assistance from psychologists or therapists, and therapy, especially prolonged, requires significant resources.
First and foremost, I would like to hear from people whose relatives are in captivity. I would also like to talk to those who have experience being in prison. This is what we rely on in our daily work. As the head of the Foundation, it's important for me to constantly work with new inquiries, listen, and most importantly, hear people, gather problematic questions, and respond to new challenges. We have been in close contact with the families of political prisoners for 3.5 years now, but the practice of repression in the country changes every day, so we need to keep our finger on the pulse every minute.
For questions about participation in the Congress, please write to the address provided.
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