We need help to support people who asserted their rights and suffered.
1. What happened?
For more 26 years our country has been ruled by the same person, who keeps the government in fear and deprives basic human rights and constitutional freedoms of the nation.
The so-called ‘presidential elections’ took place in Belarus. They drastically violated the Constitution and the Electoral Code. The elections were falsified and not recognized by the international community. The regime turned to violence, torture, and abuse directed at peaceful Belarusian citizens, started making up criminal cases and arresting people. All these were done to keep holding the power illegally. The list of political prisoners is ever-growing.
According to the results of various online surveys and polls, Lukashenko is supported by about 3% of Belarusian voters.
From 21 May to 19 June — the period when candidates were collecting signatures to participate in The Election of President of The Republic of Belarus 2020. Two leading candidates were roughly removed form the participation in the election campaign.
When the Central Election Committee announced the results of signature collection, it was obvious that Lukashenko is scared of honest competition and relied on the illegal holding of power and depriving Belarusians of their right to choose.
2. We can’t keep silence!
Belarusians could not to stay silent and refused to accept the falsifications.
Belarusians formed huge lines to submit complaints and resubmit their rejected signatures to the Central Election Committee, where they were faced with obstacles and unwillingness to accept their complaint forms.
The head of the Central Election Committee Lidya Ermoshina is the accomplice of election falsifications. She stated in response to more than 10,000 complaints that these forms were not countable.
When asked how many complaint forms they received after the Committee refused to register Viktor Babariko and Valeriy Tsepkalo, Ermoshina replied: “We haven’t been able to count them. We had to call people from other departments for help. However, the answer to these complaints has been given, there will not be another one”.
The lawlessness and brutal violations of the Constitution and the Electoral Code united Belarusians who are no longer accepting the violation of their rights to pick any president they want.
3. For the first time in history of Belarus
For the first time in Belarusian history, so many people care about difficult and injustice situation in the country. Now, each Belarusian considers itself civic duty to speak up, not to stay aside and to pursue any peaceful ways.
The main mission of the Fund “Belarus Women Foundation” is to help the affected Belarusians in treatment, psychological assistance for them, rehabilitation courses, and also support those Belarusian citizens who have been subjected to a great deal of pressure, intimidation and illegal detention on streets.
The victims of this pre-election campaign are peaceful citizens: teenagers, youngsters, students, mothers, pensioners, medical workers, teachers, etc., who hadn’t been responsible for any administrative/criminal violations before, but were brutally beaten and detained (for 15 days), who had court cases opened against them, and who ended up with huge fines (250–500 euros), with the minimal living wage being 90 euros.
And this is only the beginning! There is still a long way to go.
“Belarusian citizens are now in the epicenter of political events. Many people have suffered and requires serious assistance and support. Nevertheless, they are ready to continue fighting for their rights and freedom of expression. And the number of these people is increase daily.
Our human rights are ignored, there is no freedom of expression, the information is blocked, the Internet is shut down, and there is an immense falsification and distortion of the facts.
We have been deprived of our basic rights and are being lied to every single moment. There is no one to protect us. We really need help and support from your side.
“We ask for help. Help people who fight for their rights. Help doctors who were put to jail because they gave the first aid to the wounded. Help teachers who were fined because they refused to falsify the ballots. Help journalists who refused to spread lies over the state channels. Help workers on strike who are arrested, blackmailed and thrown away from the country. Help elderly women who come to the streets to fight for their rights and the rights of their children. Help priests who had courage to protect the people in church when riot forces attacked the church. Help young and beautiful women walking on the Belarusian streets on Saturdays giving flowers to policemen during the detention. Help thousands of people who take part in rallies and solidarity chains every day despite being arrested, fined, expelled from universities, fired from work, blackmailed, assaulted, harassed and became victims of numerous other forms of violence. Let’s help them together as we are no longer able to give them enough support on our own.”
“We guarantee that all the funds will be used for direct charity purposes, and all necessary expense reports will be made public.”
“We look forward to your caring and we are thankful for any donation you can grant!”
5. The war broke out!
Instead of a thousand words:
May God be with us. We trust.
