Lech Wałęsa to Belarusian civil society: “Your suffering will pay off” Video

Today marks the Day of Solidarity with Civil Society in Belarus. On this day in 2011, the leader of Viasna Ales Bialiatski was arrested for the first time in criminal proceedings against him. Ten years later he was again detained for his human rights activities and convicted on trumped-up charges. This situation clearly shows that the policy of destroying civil society was pursued during the whole period of Lukashenka's regime in Belarus. In recent years, the situation has become catastrophic. Currently, five members of Viasna and dozens of public and trade union activists are jailed, while more than 850 non-profit organizations are forced to liquidate.

Lech Wałęsa, a laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize for his support of the labor movement and struggle for human rights in 1983, one of the founders and leader of the social movement "Solidarity", and former president of Poland from 1990 to 1995, addressed Belarusians on the Day of Solidarity with the Civil Society of Belarus (English subtitles available).

Dear all,

We live in a time of changing eras. People are fighting for entering the new era, but the old one is defending itself.

Many people today suffer, those who are imprisoned and those who are not. I too went through this in the old days. I understand this. I encourage you; we need examples like this. Your suffering will pay off. Hold on a little longer. And the world will take notice of your devotion more and more. More and more people will see that you are on the right side.

One day there will be freedom for you, and justice and peace for the world. I believe in it. I fought for it.

Today I no longer suffer so much, but you do. I remember you. I will do everything to speed up the liberation.

Thank you!