Opposition to hold International Day of Solidarity with Belarus on November 12

October 22, Pozirk. The International Day of Solidarity with Belarus will take place on November 12, commemorating activist Raman Bandarenka, who died while in police custody after being beaten by unknown men in 2020.

“Belarusians need your solidarity and support,” Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja said in a video address. “The very existence of our country is under threat. Dictator [Alaksandar] Łukašenka, with the help of [Vladimir] Putin, is destroying our statehood and our national identity. Those who disagree are thrown in jail. Many had to flee because of repressions but many continue to fight underground.”

Belarusians want to be part of the European family of nations and they will not stop until they win their country back, the politician stressed.

She urged everyone to join the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus on November 12. “We can’t win this fight alone, but with your help, we will prevail,” she said.

Cichanoŭskaja’s team suggested holding solidarity rallies abroad, launching discussions on how the international community can help Belarus, and donating funds for political prisoners, their families, and Belarusians fighting Russia in Ukraine.

As of October 22, human rights groups identified at least 1,484 political prisoners in Belarus but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.

Most of them were imprisoned for taking part in 2020 peaceful protests against election fraud and for online comments critical of the government’s policy. Authorities in Belarus have equated criticism, solidarity, advocacy, the free media and free expression to extremism and terrorism.