Alexander Sjödin

EU, Eastern Europe, Russia and beyond

[Alexander Sjödin @AJSjodin]

Hoping for more pictures like this in 2025.

#FreeAnar #AnarMammadli

[Norway MFA @NorwayMFA]

Norway stands in solidarity with all Belarusians subjected to political repression. While recent releases offer hope, more than 800 political prisoners remain behind bars. We call for their immediate and unconditional release and an end to repression. #StandWithBelarus

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

✊ March 25 is Freedom Day in #Belarus
#NobelPeacePrize laureate and @viasna96 chairperson Ales Bialiatski spoke about how he marked this day behind bars.

“Freedom Day in the colony passed like any ordinary day for me. The administration knows nothing about this holiday. Whenever possible, I tried to tell others about it — primarily political prisoners, but not only them...

The first time I attended a Freedom Day celebration was in 1983 or 1984, in a forest near Minsk, where a few dozen young people gathered in secret. There was a sense of joy in realizing that I was not alone in dreaming of an independent Belarus.”

❗As of today, at least 889 political prisoners remain behind bars.
#FreeThemAll

[Viasna @viasna96]

"Finally, I'm free." The first words of Valiantsin Stefanovich after his release

Viasna human rights defender, Valiantsin Stefanovich, spoke with reporters about his release, family, and desire to continue his human rights work.

https://t.co/Lyim22avZl

[Viasna @viasna96]

Viasna human rights defenders Valiantsin Stefanovich and Marfa Rabkova are free!

https://t.co/kOsqjvhI7b

[Hanna Liubakova @HannaLiubakova]

I rarely share crowdfunding initiatives, as you know - but this one matters. It's to support 250 released political prisoners. The goal is €250,000, which comes to just €1,000 per person - yet even that is sadly not enough.
Thank you for any support you can give: https://t.co/Y2xgos3dnN

[Hanna Liubakova @HannaLiubakova]

I am deeply grateful for the messages I've received from all of you around the world who follow #Belarus. Your words were thoughtful, perceptive and clear-eyed. I've been moved to tears of happiness today, of course - but I cannot accept a reality in which a human being is being destroyed and exploited for gain. I am disgusted and I keep wondering how we ended up here, when this becomes treated as the new norm. It makes me angry, and it leaves me utterly exhausted.

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

⚡️Nasta Loika is free! ⚡️

Human rights defender and co-founder of Human Constanta, Nasta Loika, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for her peaceful human rights activities.
After more than 3 years behind bars, Nasta has been released and immediately forcibly removed from Belarus.

Nasta's release was the result of yet another round of negotiations between representatives of the US presidential administration and the Lukashenka regime.

[Alexander Sjödin @AJSjodin]

RT @FreeViasna: ⚡️⚡️⚡️250 political prisoners released

15 of them deported, 235 will remain in #Belarus

Marfa Rabkova
Valiantsin Stefano…

[Viasna @viasna96]

⚡️⚡️⚡️Вызваленыя 250 палітвязняў

15 з іх дэпартаваныя, 235 застануцца ў Беларусі

[Hanna Liubakova @HannaLiubakova]

#Belarus @Reuters: The government of Belarus released ​250 prisoners on ‌Thursday in a deal brokered by the ​United States, with ​235 released domestically and ⁠15 people sent ​to Lithuania, the ​US embassy in Vilnius said.

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

⚡️ Marfa Rabkova is free! ⚡️

The coordinator of Viasna’s volunteer service was sentenced to almost 15 years in prison for her peaceful work. In the end, she spent 5.5 years in prison.

Immediately after release, she was taken to Lithuania.

🔗 Learn more about the Viasna case: https://t.co/X8mXxAbtLk

#FreeViasna #FreeThemAll

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

⚡️Valiantsin Stefanovic is free! ⚡️

The deputy chairperson of Viasna spent over 4 years and 8 months in prison for his peaceful work. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison along with his colleagues from @viasna96, Ales Bialiatski and Uladzimir Labkovich, who were released on December 13, 2025.

In detention, Valiantsin faced pressure and was recently transferred to a harsher prison regime in Mahilioŭ. After his release today, he was immediately taken to Lithuania.

🔗 Learn more about the Viasna case: https://t.co/X8mXxAbtLk

#FreeViasna #FreeThemAll

[Human Rights House Foundation @HRHFoundation]

Today, Belarusian journalist Andrei Aliaksandrau marks his 48th birthday behind bars. We continue to call for his immediate release, and for the freedom of all political prisoners in the country. Together with @IndexCensorship we share a poem written by Andrei. #FreeAndrei

[Human Rights House Foundation @HRHFoundation]

Valiantsin Stefanovich has been behind bars for four and a half years. He was detained on 14 July 2021 alongside Ales Bialiatski & Uladzimir Labkovich, who were both released on 13 December 2025. We repeat our call for his release and all political prisoners in #Belarus.

[Franak Viačorka @franakviacorka]

The numbers are grim: in 2025 alone, 1,254 new people in Belarus were sentenced on political charges. Two political prisoners died behind bars.

Freedom in our country means not only releasing those imprisoned, but ending further arrests and sentences. Belarusians must be free.

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

💔 Valiantsin Stefanovic, human rights defender and deputy head of @viasna96, has now spent 4 years and 6 months in prison

He was sentenced to 9 years in prison for his peaceful professional human rights work. Valiantsin did not admit guilt under any of the articles he was charged with.

While his colleagues Ales Bialiatski and Uladzimir Labkovich were released on December 13, Valiantsin Stefanovic remains unjustly behind bars in Belarus.

#FreeViasna

[Human Rights House Foundation @HRHFoundation]

Today marks five years behind bars for Belarusian #humanrights defender Andrei Aliaksandrau. We continue to call for his release and for the release of all political prisoners in the country.

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

🎉 "I'm confident that we will celebrate the next birthday together with you in freedom"

The head of @viasna96 and #NobelPeacePrize laureate Ales Bialiatski congratulated human rights defenders Marfa Rabkova and Nasta Loika on their birthdays.

Today, Marfa and Nasta are marking their birthdays in a women’s penal colony in Belarus. Ales Bialiatski, who was released on December 13, 2025, recorded a video message for his colleagues filled with warm words of support and hope for a reunion in freedom.

#FreeMarfa #FreeNasta

[Human Rights House Foundation @HRHFoundation]

This weekend, 123 people were pardoned in #Belarus incl. our colleagues Ales Bialiatski & Uladzimir Labkovich. HRHF continues to call for justice for them, and for the release of 1100+ political prisoners that remain behind bars. https://t.co/xDNgqNvIw9

[#FreeViasna @FreeViasna]

😯 Ales Bialiatski should have been released in June

Ihar Losik, a former #politicalprisoner, revealed that he and Ales Bialiatski were both due to be released earlier this year, until the Belarusian authorities removed their names from the list at the last minute.

Losik was eventually freed and deported. Bialiatski — #NobelPeacePrize laureate and @viasna96 founder — is still serving a 10-year sentence. Human rights defenders, like all 1,222 political prisoners in #Belarus, should be free. #FreeAles #FreeThemAll

📸 @svaboda