No young person should live in fear of their own government.

Today we received the grim news that members of the National Youth Council of Belarus have been targeted and that the oppressive government is seeking their arrest. The home of the Secretary General of RADA was searched by the police, including by those without a uniform.

Since August’s undemocratic elections in Belarus, the situation in the country has continued to escalate. Violations of democratic freedoms and human rights have already resulted in the imprisonment of peaceful protesters and beatings of political prisoners. Young people have been on the frontlines in this fight for democracy and human rights and now they are being persecuted for it.

The arbitrary arrests and searches must stop.

We call on:

• governments, the European Union, as well as international organisations to continue to openly condemn the human rights violations perpetrated by the Belarusian authorities, and strengthen cooperation and joint action to disincentivise this descent into violence.
• governments to foster the democratic transition by supporting the people of Belarus’ call for free and open elections.
• governments to provide automatic asylum and support to Belarusians seeking to escape from the human rights violations perpetrated by Belarusian authorities.
• Belarusian authorities to immediately end all forms of violence and repression against peaceful protestors, release all political prisoners, stop all arbitrary arrests, and hold free and fair elections.

We stand with RADA and the people in Belarus.