Alena Lazarchyk has long been one of Belarus’s most fearless activists. As part of the civil campaign “European Belarus,” she has taken part in every peaceful protest since 2010, often alongside her late husband, Serguei. Both were detained multiple times for their commitment to freedom and democracy.
Her activism came at a heart-breaking personal cost. On September 17, 2020, Alena was detained during peaceful protests against the presidential elections, which were believed to be rigged by several organisations. While she was held without charge, the authorities abducted her six-year-old son and placed him in an orphanage. A young child, taken from his mother, scared and alone. This unlawful act sparked outrage: the next day, hundreds gathered to demand his release. Their protest led to the release of her son, and he was returned to his mother. The women’s protest marches that swept across Belarus were born from this moment.
Despite the regime’s constant threats, Alena continued her peaceful resistance. In December 2021, she was arrested again, and the repression intensified. On fabricated charges of “contempt of the president,” she was branded a “terrorist” in July 2022. Her trial was held behind closed doors, and on September 19, 2022, she was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Alena’s ordeal in prison has been harrowing. She has been kept in cold punishment cells for months, denied food, sleep, and medical care. She is deprived of even the most basic essentials. Her relatives are often left with no news of her condition. Meanwhile, her 10-year-old son now lives with his older sister, after already enduring the loss of his father Serguei, who died last year.
Yet even behind bars, Alena’s courage has not wavered. She continues her fight as a symbol of dignity, resilience, and hope for a free Belarus.
We are supporting Alena through emergency funding again this year, as her struggle persists in these cold, dark punishment cells. Last year, our donors’ generosity made it possible to provide essential support for her and her family during this time of unimaginable hardship. Today, continued assistance is vital. Alena’s imprisonment is beyond her control, and your support ensures her children are cared for and that she is not forgotten.
By standing with Alena, we send a powerful message: her sacrifice in the name of human rights is not forgotten, and her struggle for freedom continues to inspire hope in Belarus and beyond.
