BYACTION is
a Volunteer-driven initiative based in the USA, dedicated to supporting and protecting victims of political repression from Belarus.
Our community was born out of a genuine need to assist individuals who found themselves in vulnerable situations due to the mass political repression initiated by the Lukashenko regime in Belarus in 2020.
This repressive regime forced hundreds of thousands of Belarusians to seek refuge abroad, and the United States became one of the countries where victims of political repression found sanctuary.
However, despite our deep respect and gratitude toward the U.S. Government, practical challenges such as bureaucratic delays, resource shortages, and political changes pose significant risks, potentially hindering Belarusians from fully accessing their right to protection.
Our primary goal is to prevent further violence against the victims of political repression.
Our objectives:
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Protection of victims of political repression
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Informing Government Agencies and International Organizations about the situation of political refugees from Belarus
OUR VALUES
We firmly believe that everyone deserves a chance to live a safe and dignified life. We operate transparently, treat everyone who reaches out to us with care, and strive to support all Belarusians in the United States.
ACT NOW
If you are a Belarusian with a well-founded fear of returning to your country of origin, contact us immediately. We will do everything in our power to help you avoid life-threatening danger.
If you represent a Human Rights Organization or a Governmental Agency, reach out to us to collaborate on developing effective mechanisms for protecting Belarusians from persecution.
If you want to support Byaction, spread the word about us on social media, and share our materials with your friends and partners. Together, we can save lives and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ales Bialiatski
Nobel Laureate and Twice Political Prisoner Advocating for Human Rights
Ales Bialiatski
Date of Birth: September 25, 1962
Education: Homiel State University, Belarus (History and Philology, 1984); Belarussian Academy of Sciences (PhD in Literature, 1989)
Human Rights Center “Viasna” Headquarters: Minsk, Belarus Founded in: 1996
Ales Viktaravich Bialiatsk - an activist for Belarusian independence and democracy since the early 1980s, Bialiatski is a founding member of Viasna and the Belarusian Popular Front, serving as leader of the latter from 1996 to 1999. He is also a member of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition. He has been called "a pillar of the human rights movement in Eastern Europe" by The New York Times, and recognised as a prominent pro-democracy activist in Belarus.
Ales Bialiatski was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014.
In 2022, Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Bialiatski's defence of human rights in Belarus has brought him numerous international accolades.
He is a laureate of the Czech Homo Homini Award (presented by Václav Havel), the Swedish Per Anger Prize "for his fearless struggle for the right of ordinary people to resist oppression and violations of their human rights," the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award, the U.S. State Department Award, the Lech Wałęsa Award, and many others. He is an honorary citizen of Genoa, Paris, and Syracuse.
In 2020, he won the Right Livelihood Award, widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize".
Ales Bialiatski has faced imprisonment on two occasions: first from 2011 to 2014, and again since 2021. Human rights organizations widely regard the charges against him as politically motivated.
On March 3, 2023, a court in Minsk sentenced Bialiatski to ten years in prison on charges of “cash smuggling” and “financing activities and groups that grossly violate public order.” These charges are widely believed to be fabricated, aimed at suppressing Bialiatski and his advocacy efforts following his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Peaceful protests in Belarus 2020–2021
Minsk, Belarus
