400th Godparent: First Minister of Scotland “adopts” Belarusian Political Prisoner Dzmitryi Halavach
Today, Libereco’s solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou for political prisoners has reached another milestone: With First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf becoming the 400th parliamentarian to take on symbolic godparenthood for a political prisoner in Belarus.
- FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND HUMZA YOUSAF
As part of Libereco’s #WeStandBYyou campaign First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf becomes a godparent for Belarusian political prisoner Dzmitryi Halavach. The Scottish First Minister is the 400th parliamentarian who has taken on a symbolic godparenthood for a political prisoner and the first head of government joining the solidarity campaign.
41 year old Dzmitryi Halavach has been held for a year in prison. He is a member of “Tor Band”, a Belarusian rock group who were involved in the pro-democracy protests in 2020. In January 2023 the regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared the band “extremist” and in October Dzmitryi Halavach was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
First head of government joining #WeStandBYyou campaign
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Politicians who rage against democracy never prevail. I watched aghast as Lukashenko stole the election in Belarus in 2020, and the brutal crackdown on those who disagreed with him that followed. As the first head of a government anywhere in the world to sponsor a political prisoner of the Belarus regime, I encourage others to join Scotland in unequivocally condemning the abuses carried out by the Lukashenko regime against the Belarusian people.”
He added: “Dzmitryi has been handed a nine-year prison sentence – simply for exercising his freedom to speak out, and protest. I hope that by shining a light on what him and others are facing in Belarus, I and the government I lead can raise awareness of and support for him, and for the thousands of other political prisoners in Belarus.”
Tsikhanouskaya embraces “warmth of solidarity”
Belarusian opposition leader Svietlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed her deep appreciation to First Minister Humza Yousaf “for the warmth of your support of Dzmitryi Halavach through Libereco’s godparenting program”. “Your compassionate stance towards Belarusian political prisoners is really touching. Together, we embrace the warmth of solidarity in the pursuit of freedom and justice,” she said.
Libereco’s godparent campaign matches European parliamentarians with individual Belarusian political prisoners. The now 400 godparents from a total of 23 European countries illustrate the continuing and enormous European solidarity with the victims of the Lukashenko regime.
So far, the Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna has declared more than 4,500 people to have been persecuted for political reasons. Currently, over 1,400 people are political prisoners in Belarus. Since 2020 the Libereco godparents have written to prisoners and campaigned about the prisoners in parliaments and in the media.
- Dzmitryi Halavach
Taking part in #WeStandBYyou campaign from Libereco
Ken McBain, a UK representative for Libereco, commented the participation of First Minister of Scotland in their campaign:
"Since the events of August 2020 in Belarus we have had great support for democracy and freedom from the Scottish Parliament.
Very soon after the rigged election there was a parliamentart statement condemning the violence and suppression of democracy. Liam McArthur MSP, Willie Rennie MSP and Alex Burnett MSP became the first Scottish Parliamentary godparents in the Libereco campaign and have been very supportive in helping to organise events in Parliament.
I am delighted, therefore, that the Scottish contribution to the campaign for justice and freedom in Belarus is joined by the First Minister of Scotland. He is the first Head of Government to join the Libereco campaign and I want to thank him and all of the Scottish Government team who have made this happen. It should be an encouragement to all Belarusians who work for freedom and justice that there are parliamentarians, politicians and government officials in other countries who care about what's happening in Belarus. We all long for the day when the politicians and government officials within Belarus also care about justice and freedom."
Five godparents from Scotland
First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf took on symbolic godparenthood along with other MSPs:
- Eduard Babaryka – Supported by External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson
On 5 July 2023 Eduard received an eight-year prison sentence.
- Siarhai Vaitsiuk – Supported by Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray
Siarhai is serving a two-and-a-half years sentence in prison.
- Natallja Dulina – Supported by Minister for Europe Christina McKelvie
Natallja was detained in early October 2022 and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.
- Volha Tserakh – Supported by Minister for Equalities Emma Roddick
In March 2023 she was sentenced to five years imprisonment for her actions.
