Trade union activist of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM) and eight other political prisoners have symbolic godparents. European parliamentarians take part in the #WeStandBYyou solidarity campaign organized by Libereco, the Partnership for Human Rights.
The godmother of the Belarusian trade union leader is Gabriela Heinrich, the former "godmother" of the freed Yegor Sugoyda and a member of the German Bundestag from the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
- More than two years after the rigged presidential election in Belarus, the atmosphere of repression persists. Members of the opposition, trade union activists and human rights activists are still under threat of arbitrary arrest, while civil society organizations are under enormous pressure," said the deputy.
- People in Belarus are still demanding our attention and solidarity. This also applies to a member of the Free Trade Union, Yannina Malash. There is nothing unusual in her arrest: the leaders of trade unions, openly criticizing the Belarusian regime, have repeatedly been arrested for political reasons. I call on Alexander Lukashenka to immediately release Yanina Malash and all other political prisoners! The repression in the country must finally stop.
We would remind that on November 15, 2022 the judge of Maskouski District Court of Minsk sentenced Yanina Malash, political prisoner activist of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers. She was accused under part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in actions that grossly violate public order) and sentenced to one year and six months in jail. The activist has been kept in custody for nine months. Yanina's daughter is waiting for her release.