#WeStandBYyou: New Godparents from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands

As part of our #WeStandBYyou campaign, Gabriela Heinrich (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, Germany), Christian Friis Bach (Venstre, Denmark) and Geert Gabriels (GroenLinks-PvdA, the Netherlands) have taken over the godparenthood for Volha Brytsikava, Aliaksandr Fiaduta and Aliaksandr Verasovich.

Volha Brytsikava had worked for the state-owned oil refinery Naftan for 16 years. She was the leader of the independent trade union “Naftan” until she was dismissed because of her political views. She participated in the 2020 strikes and has since been imprisoned several times for several months. This was also partly due to her speaking out against the war in Ukraine on social media. On 11 August 2023, she was detained again and accused of “Creation of or participation in an extremist formation” (Art. 361-1), “Promoting extremist activities” (Art. 361-4), and “Incitement to hatred” (Art. 130). Volha was finally sentenced to a total of 6 years’ imprisonment. She was also classified as a terrorist, resulting in even stricter imprisonment conditions.

Gabriela Heinrich is a Member of the German Bundestag for the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD), as well as being the Group Coordinator and Policy Spokesperson for the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid. This is the third time she has become a godparent, and this time she is standing with Volha Brytsikava. Regarding her support, she explains:: “The Lukashenko-Regime keeps thousands of people locked away in its prisons arbitrarily – just because they dared to express their opinions, report critically or protest peacefully. Just as it happened to Volha Brytsikava. With the Naftan-Labour Union she advocated for Freedom of Association and better working conditions. She also openly opposed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on social media. The Belarusian regime reacted by repression and imprisonment. In doing so it is directly attacking human rights. Whoever violates human rights, the rule of law and human dignity, clearly positions himself outside of the European Community of Values. I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Volha Brytsikava and all other political prisoners of Belarus.”

Aliaksandr Fiaduta is a renowned political scientist and literary scholar. On 12 April, he was detained by the Belarusian KGB in Moscow in an attempt to infiltrate his opposition circle, which includes Ryhor Kastusiou, a former presidential candidate and chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front. In a joint statement, the KGB and the FSB claimed that they had prevented an assassination attempt on Lukashenko and his sons and uncovered a plot to overthrow the government. Fiaduta pleaded partially guilty, but did not agree with the motives listed in the bill of indictment. Nevertheless, he was sentenced to ten years in prison for “Conspiracy to seize power” (Art. 357). It has since been confirmed that his heart problems have worsened due to the inhumane conditions of his detention. This even temporarily led to the necessity of transferring him to a hospital.

Christian Friis Bach is a former minister and current MP for the Venstre Party in the Danish Folketing. He is also the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy, and has become the godparent of Aliaksandr Fiaduta, declaring: “In support of a democratic and free Belarus with respect for human rights I sponsor Mr. Aliaksandr Fiaduta and will work for his release. We must show that we stand with the suppressed in Belarus. A democratic government does not detain citizens for voicing opposition; we must stand with those who are wrongfully detained and call for the government to release political prisoners, including Mr. Aliaksandr Fiaduta, whom I am honored to sponsor through this initiative.”

Aliaksandr Verasovich, a father of two, ran a small business prior to his arrest. He was detained because of his donations to the Belarusian Solidarity Fund BYSOL, as well as to the Kalinouski Regiment — a Belarusian volunteer brigade fighting for Ukraine. On 1 April 2024, the judge sentenced Aliaksandr to six years in a penal colony for alleged “Financing extremist activities” (Art. 361-2) and “Participation in hostilities on foreign soil” (Art. 361-3).

Geert Gabriëls is MP of the Dutch Tweede Kamer for the GroenLinks-PvdA. He is taking on his second godparenthood, this time supporting Aliaksandr Varesovich. He made the following statement about his godparenthood: “I am adopting Aliaksandr, a political prisoner in Belarus, to ask attention for his fate, and that of the many other prisoners still behind bars in his country. Aliaksandr was sentenced to six long years in prison for something that all of us do sometimes, something democracy needs: donating to a cause he cared about. But as Aliaksandr does not live in a democracy, donating to an independent organisation cost him his freedom. I am honoured to stand up for him.”