#WeStandBYyou: Darya Losik, Yuryi Hantsarevich, and Siarhei Plonis ‘adopted’ by European MPs

As part of Libereco solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou, Robin Wagener (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens), Felix Döring (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party) and François Pointet (Swiss National Council, Green Liberal Party) have taken on a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.

Robin Wagener, Member of the German Bundestag | Libereco

Darya Losik was detained on 18 October 2022. She is married to video blogger Ihar Losik, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020 and became the first Belarusian political prisoner to receive a godparent as part of the #WeStandByYou campaign. Darya Losik is detained as part of a criminal case, further details are not yet known.

Robin Wagener, Member of the German Bundestag and godparent of Ihar Losik, has taken on the godparenthood of Darya Losik and states:

“I strongly condemn the imprisonment of Darya Losik in Belarus. Darya is a fighter for freedom, democracy and justice. For over two years, she has tirelessly campaigned for the release of her husband. For this courage and sense of justice, Darya herself must now pay with her freedom. Ihar and Darya have a young daughter, Paulina, who, in addition to her father, will now miss her mother every single day. The arrest of Darya once again shows the ugly face of the Lukashenka dictatorship. Back in October 2021 I took on the godparenthood of Ihar Losik. It is therefore a matter of course for me to now also – for as long as it will be necessary – work for the release of Darya. Paulina needs her parents. Belarus needs such courageous democrats as Ihar and Darya. Europe needs the end of Lukashenka’s criminal regime.”

Felix Döring, Member of the German Bundestag | Libereco

Journalist Yuryi Hantsarevich was arrested on 27 April 2022 and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison on 14 July 2022 under Article 361-4 (“promoting extremist activities”).  

Felix Döring, Member of the German Bundestag, has taken on the godparenthood for Yuryi Hantsarevich and declares:

„Freedom for Yuryi Hantsarevich! The autocratic system in Belarus responds to democracy efforts with repression and imprisonment. It is intolerable that people like Yuryi continue to be imprisoned for their journalistic activities. Freedom of the press is non-negotiable. I demand the immediate release of Yuryi and his colleagues! I stand by you, Yuryi, #WeStandBYyou!“

François Pointet, Member of the Swiss National Council and vice chair of the Commission for Security Policy | Libereco

Siarhei Plonis was arrested on 2 October 2020 and sentenced to eight years of imprisonment on 19 July 2021 under Art. 293 (“participation in riot”) and Art. 218 (“intentional destruction or damage to property”).

François Pointet, Member of the Swiss National Council and vice chair of the Commission for Security Policy, comments on his godparenthood for Siarhei Plonis as follows:

“Siarhei Plonis is a system administrator who was unlawfully sentenced to eight years in prison. Like many others, he took part in a demonstration in 2020 and was subsequently imprisoned. The protests before and after the presidential elections were peaceful and demanded basic human rights and repression-free elections. I demand the same: I call on the Belarusian authorities to guarantee basic human rights, release Siarhei Plonis and all other political prisoners immediately. For a free Belarus and the instant suppression of political repression.”