The General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Kevin Kühnert assumed the role of a “godparent” for Volha Brytsikava, a political prisoner in Belarus, Brytsikava, the former leader of the workplace union at the Naftan oil refinery affiliated to the Belarusian Independent Union (BNP), was arrested by the Belarusian authorities for her civic activism and her struggle for workers’ rights.
Kühnert expressed his support of Brytsikava within the framework of the international campaign of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners #WeStandBYyou Libereco. This initiative seeks to keep the broader public aware of repressions in Belarus and support those who fight for human rights and democratic freedoms in the country.
On his Instagram page, the German politician pointed out:
“The Belarusian regime constantly violates the fundamental human rights of its citizens. It is those rights that Volha Brytsikava exercised when she promoted the freedom of association and better working conditions for her colleagues. It was the fundamental human rights that she exercised when she recorded events associated with elections in Belarus and stood for peace. The Belarusian regime responded with repressions and imprisonment.”
Kevin Kühnert called for immediate release of Volha Brytsikava and all political prisoners in Belarus. He also stressed that the Social Democratic Party of Germany is on the side of independent unions and workers of Belarus who fight for democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms.
Volha Brytsikava worked at the Naftan oil refinery for 16 years but she was dismissed for her civic activism. She was repeatedly detained for taking part in anti-war protests and disseminating materials that the authorities declared to be extremist. In 2022, she spent 105 days behind bars, 75 of them in a row. On April 8, the Vitsyebsk Regional Court found her guilty of “fomenting social discord” and sentenced her to three years in prison. This verdict was sustained by the country’s Supreme Court after an appeal.
International support coming from prominent political figures like Kevin Kühnert helps keeping the public attention focused on the critical situation of human rights in Belarus and contributes to the struggle for the release of political prisoners in the country.
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