Tatyana Tishkevich © Private
Five Belarusian youth activists sentenced to ‘restricted freedom’ for attending a peaceful protest have told Amnesty International how they were targeted by the authorities.
Tatyana Tishkevich, Alyaksei Bondar, Mikhail Kryvau, Ales Straltsou and Ales Charnyshou will be following this blog and contributing to it when they are able to. Two other activists, Artsyom Dubski – who is in prison – and Maksim Dashuk, were unable to take part.
In this blog, we hope to establish a live dialogue between Amnesty International activists, supporters and people experiencing repression in Belarus, first hand.
Post your questions to the activists and your thoughts on the situation in Belarus here. They will join the debate and respond to your comments.
Belarus activists tell of life in exile (News, 27 November 2009)
Wow, I have to say you guys are pretty amazing. Stay strong and best of luck! I will pray you for all of you guys, yoiu deserve it.
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I can’t believe the injustice you have been served. You are not, and never will be, alone. I and many others will continue fighting to get you home.
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The situation in Belarus makes me angry. But remember, there has never been a dictatorship that lasts forever. In Belarus, I hope it will disappear right now. I am in full support of you all. Best wishes for the new year 2010.
Thank you for sharing you stories. I’ve closely followed that situation in Belarus, but it is still hard to imagine that you are being punished for using your right to express your opinion. I wish you all the best. Many people are thinking of you. Keep up the important work. Best, Janet
Just to let you know that we (Amsterdam students) asked other students to sign a petition aasking the Belarusian government to respect your human rights.
Thank you for sharing your stories with us. I admire your strength and look forward to reading about the attention which your actions bring to the situation in Belarus!
- a friend in Washington DC
Hi Guys,
Just wanted to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH to everyone who left their comments here and expressed their support. Your warm supportive words are really important for me.
Having to flee your own country is hard. I didn’t leave Belarus to seek for a brighter future. I never wanted to be an emigrant because I knew that the emigrant’s life was pretty hard. And you have to be strong enough to get yourself together and get your life back on track. The worst part of being a refugee is that you can’t see your loved ones.
Anyway, I agree with a comment from Netherlands here. I believe that political regimes that have no respect for their own citizens are doomed to fail. They won’t last long. Sooner or later they will crash under their own violence and lies. So, I think that pretty soon I will be able to come back to my country.
And I also believe that my life here in Ireland, my experience of living in a democratic country where a person is considered to be the highest value will help me to make a difference in Belarus when I come back. We must bring Belarus back to Europe where Belarus belongs.
Жыве Беларусь!
Thank you for shining a light on the situation in Belarus. The world will have no choice but to pay attention to your stories of courage. -Washington DC
Dear friends -
Just wanted to mention one more thing. Current Belarusian regime lies to European public when they say to you guys that there are no political prisoners in Belarus. Just to start with, what about Dubski, Avtukhovich, Osipenko, Leonov?.. One of them, Artem Dubski, was one of us, the fourteen people who were initially sentenced to house arrest. He was under house arrest for a while until police fabricated a new criminal case against him, in regard to his alleged violation of the conditions of his initial sentence. So, he is now one of the political prisoners thrown in jail in Belarus. You never know what will happen with you when you live not under the rule of law, but under dictatorship. The last dictatorship in Europe…
Благодарю всех вас за поддержку в трудный час, благодарю Amnesty International за кампанию информирования и давления на беларуские власти с целью пересмотреть наши приговоры и, самое главное, освободить 23-хлетнего Артема Дубского, нашего коллегу, из тюрьмы. Только сильное международное давление способно сдерживать преступный режим. Солидарность способна ломать стены преступности и беззакония. Спасибо Всем, с Рождеством и Новым Годом!
Awesome to hear about the life of an activist in Belarus, awful to hear that it’s harrassed and violated in so many ways, by the highest official of the country. I don’t see many media reports of the situation in Belarus, but when I do, can’t avoid impression and the people are forced to the silence. I admire your courage, wishing you all the luck. Greetings from the snowy Finland!
Thank you so much for your bravery. Please continue to spread the word – the more the world knows, the more we can hold Belorus’s leaders responsible for crimes. To stay silent is the worst form of tragedy. Stay strong in your fight!
What you did and still do, speak out for human rights while facing repression, is very impressive! You are very courageous. I wish one day soon you will be able to express yourself freely and return home without threats. You are not alone. Thank you for sharing your stories and raise consciousness all around us. Hold on!