We Condemn the Human Rights Abuses of the Belarusian Dictatorship

On August 3rd, Belarusian sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya, who was ordered to return to the airport after criticizing her coaches, fled to Poland with the help of the IOC and Polish government. 

This is not an individual matter, but it shows the government’s suppression of human rights against people under the dictatorship of Alexander Lukashenko, which has continued for 28 years.

Lukashenko, who came to power in 1994, expressed his ambition for the regime to the point where his press secretary said in 2019 that “dictatorship is our brand.” He won the presidential election in August of last year and came to power again, but during the election, he arrested and detained prominent candidates such as Siarhei Tsikhanouski and Viktar Babaryka. or forced them to go to Lithuania and Russia. Likewise, he showed strong will for retaining power. In response, the Belarusians are continuing large-scale protests for democracy, justice, and peace, and criticizing the Lukashenko administration and demanding new general and presidential elections. 

However, the Belarusian police fired rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas at the protesters, beat, detained, and tortured them. Opposition politicians, independent media outlets, and ordinary citizens who participated the peaceful protests have been arrested or fled into exile. The death of Vitaly Shishov on August 3, a social activist who helped Belarusians that migrated to Ukraine to escape from government oppression, is suspected of being murdered by the Lukashenko government. 

As such, Belarus is experiencing an unprecented human rights crisis. Therefore, the May 18 Memorial Foundation calls for an end to the persecution of citizens caused by the Belarusian dictatorship, the immediate and unconditional release of those detained and arrested, and the guarantee of freedom and democracy in Belarus. 

August 4, 2021

The May 18 Memorial Foundation

※ Belarusian in Korea will visit Gwangju and hold an event to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the Belarusian Democratic Uprising against Lukashenko’s human rights abuses and long-term dictatorship at the May Memory Repository inside of the May 18 Memorial Foundation. The May 18 Memorial Foundation will actively support the struggle for democracy of Belarusian living in Korea and plans to seek solidarity in any possible way.