Happy International Women's Day – a day of struggle and solidarity!
We join the words of Veronica Tsepkalo, Chair of the Belarus Women’s Foundation, and thank everyone involved in the process of freeing political prisoners. Every release is an important step.
Source: Veronica Tsepkalo | Facebook
"March 8 has always been a special day for women across the post-Soviet space — a celebration of spring, love, beauty, and joy. On this day, men give flowers, prepare surprises, and express admiration for the women in their lives.
I am sincerely glad that many months of careful work with our American partners, carried out by the teams of the Belarus Democratic Forum and the Belarus Women’s Foundation, has led to the release of a number of political prisoners, including many women. However, many Belarusian women — mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, friends, and loved ones — will still not be able to celebrate this day with their families.
As of today, 1,179 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, including 169 women.
As a mother, it is especially painful for me to accept that many children are deprived of their mothers’ warmth and care simply because someone decided to label their mothers “extremists” and imprison them. This should never happen.
During this visit to Washington, we held a number of meetings at the White House and in the U.S. Senate, where I, as Chair of the Belarus Women’s Foundation, once again raised the issue of women imprisoned by the regime.
Following our previous appeals, we delivered a letter to First Lady of the United States Melania Trump, asking for her support in facilitating the release of political prisoners — particularly the most vulnerable categories of women: mothers of minor children, women of retirement age, and people suffering from chronic illnesses for whom access to medical care is a matter of survival.
As long as even one woman imprisoned for political reasons remains in a Belarusian prison, we will continue our work and fight for their freedom.
Happy Spring and Beauty Day!
May this spring bring good news — peace, joy, love, and everything bright.
And we will surely meet again at home — in our beloved Belarus."
#FreeBelarusWomen #FreePoliticalPrisoners #FreeThemAll
#IWD2025 #МЖД2025 #8Марта #8march
On International Women's Day, March 8, 2026
there are
- 169 women political prisoners in Belarus (belaruswomen.org)
- 26 Women Political Prisoners - Mothers of 44 Minor Children (belaruswomen.org)
- 27 Women Political Prisoners of Retirement Age (belaruswomen.org)
See also: Urgent Appeals (belaruswomen.org)
RU: 8 Марта - Международный Женский День (belaruswomen.org)