BYACTION
a Volunteer-driven initiative based in the USA, dedicated to supporting and protecting victims of political repression from Belarus.
Our Work
BYACTION is founded on a simple yet powerful belief: no individual should be denied their right to justice and protection.
WE OBSERVING
We are observing the situation of asylum seekers from Belarus in the United States,
which allows us to stay at the heart of developments and respond effectively.
WE ASSIST
We strive to provide targeted assistance to those whose situations raise the greatest concern.
WE ADVISE
We advise and support lawyers working on cases related to Belarus, offering guidance and expertise.
WE COOPERATE
We cooperate with the Democratic Forces of Belarus, International Organizations, and the Media to bring public attention to cases of imminent danger.
Dalučajsia
Далучайся
Pašanovany suajčynnik, kali ty maješ abruhntavany strach viartacca na baćkaŭščynu, kali laska, dalučysia da prahramy «Adzinstva». My zrobim usio mahčymaje, kab dapamohčy tabie pazbiehnuć smjarotnaj niebiapeki.
Паважаны суайчыннік, калі ты маеш абгрунтаваны страх вяртацца на бацькаўшчыну, калі ласка, далучайся да праграмы «Адзінства». Мы зробім усё магчымае, каб дапамагчы табе пазбегнуць смяротнай небяспекі.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROTOCOLS
We develop and implement emergency response protocols to address the threat of forced return to Belarus.
We collaborate with human rights organizations, a network of lawyers, and media to bring public attention to cases of imminent danger.
The greatest evils in history were not committed by fanatics or sociopaths, but by ordinary people who accepted the norms of their society and dutifully carried out their legal obligations.
ACT NOW
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.
OUR CONCERN
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.
Friends Founders
Our primary goal is to prevent further violence against the victims of political repression.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
A Real Threat to Life and Health
Individuals extradited or deported to Belarus face filtration procedures, arrests, torture, and imprisonment. In essence, the handover of Belarusian refugees to the Lukashenko regime is akin to delivering people into the hands of executioners.
The Threat of Global Persecution
The Lukashenko dictatorship relentlessly persecutes its opponents worldwide. KGB agents abduct individuals, place them on illegal international wanted lists through Interpol, and use diplomatic channels, covert networks, and criminal syndicates to carry out violent acts.Today, being added to the regime's list of enemies does not require political leadership or active opposition. Simply speaking out, expressing your thoughts openly, or helping others is enough to become a target.
This is confirmed by reports from the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations, and all Human Rights Organizations Worldwide.
Repression of Lawyers and the Punitive Judicial System in Belarus
In Belarus, a systematic and deliberate campaign is being carried out to restrict the rights and freedoms of lawyers, undermine their professional activities, and discredit or remove them from the legal system. These actions include threats, arrests, bans on professional practice, revocation of licenses, and other forms of pressure.
Particular attention should also be paid to the punitive nature of the Belarusian judicial system. The conviction rate for all criminal cases in Belarus stands at an alarming 99.9%.
If the Lukashenko regime considers you an enemy, you are inevitably subjected to retribution, including the risk of your murder.
Persecution of Human Rights Defenders in Belarus
The dictatorial regime in Belarus systematically suppresses civil society, targeting human rights defenders, volunteers, and activists through a deliberate campaign of arrests, violence, and threats. Accused of "extremism" or "terrorism," many face harsh prison conditions, forced confessions, and closed trials. Families of activists are also subjected to intimidation, while organizations are forcibly shut down. These repressive tactics aim to silence dissent and dismantle civil society, demanding urgent international attention and solidarity.
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.