Motherhood Behind Bars - Belarus, 11 May 2025 - Mother’s Day in the Land of Prisons
In many countries around the world, 11 May is Mother’s Day — a day to celebrate mothers, give them flowers, and gather with family. It is a day of love, care, and gratitude for those who give life.
But in Belarus, under the Lukashenko regime, motherhood has become a reason for especially harsh repression against women.
Since 2020, 1,842 women in Belarus have been subjected to politically motivated criminal prosecution (dissidentby.com). Roughly every ninth woman was a mother of a minor child who faced repression - ranging from surveillance and pressure to arrest, imprisonment, and even torture. Some were forced to part with their children. Others are raising them in fear, under pressure, or in forced exile (women in forced emigration (belaruswomen.org)).
As of 11 May 2025 -Mother’s Day- at least 172 women political prisoners are held in the prisons of the Lukashenko regime (Women Political Prisoners in Belarus (belaruswomen.org)).
26 of them -every 7th woman- are mothers of 46 minor children (List: Women Political Prisoners - Mothers of Minor Children (belaruswomen.org)).
- 73% of these mothers are included in the “Extremist List” maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs
- 23% are listed as “terrorists” by the KGB of Belarus
- Their sentences range from 2 to 11 years in penal colonies
The persecution of mothers in Belarus is not a series of isolated incidents - it is part of a systemic campaign of state terror targeting women and civil society. (Belarus - Women in the Grip of State Terror (belaruswomen.org))
These 26 Women Political Prisoners — Mothers of 46 Minor Children —
Must Be Released Immediately:
1. ABLAB Hanna | АБЛАБ Анна, sentenced to 11 yrs in a penal colony: 2 children #
2. ALIAKSEYEVA Volha | АЛЕКСЕЕВА Ольга, unknown yrs in a penal colony: 1 child #
3. BERAZAVETS Tatsiana | БЕРЕЗОВЕЦ Татьяна, in pre-trial detention: 3 children #
4. DAMASTOI Viktoryia | ДОМОСТОЙ Виктория sentenced to 5 yrs in a penal colony: 3 children # & ##
5. DAVYDULINA Natallia | ДАВЫДУЛИНА Наталья sentenced to 3 yrs in a penal colony: 5 children #
6. DEYNEKA Liudmila | ДЕЙНЕКО Людмила sentenced to unknown yrs in a penal colony: 2 children # & ##
7. DOBYSH Alena | ДОБЫШ Елена, in pre-trial detention: 1 child
8. FASEVICH Karyna | ФАCЕВИЧ Карина, unknown yrs in a penal colony: 1 child
9. KANEUSKAYA Tatsiana | КАНЕВСКАЯ Татьяна sentenced to 6 yrs in a penal colony: 1 child #
10. KARNIAYENKA Hanna | КОРНИЕНКО Анна sentenced to 5 yrs in a penal colony: 1 child # & ##
11. KASHCHEYAVA Tatsiana | КОЩЕЕВА Татьяна sentenced to unknown yrs in a penal colony: 1 child
12. LAPTANOVICH Yuliya | ЛАПТАНОВИЧ Юлия sentenced to 4 yrs 9 mnts in a penal colony: 3 children #
13. LAZARCHYK Alena | ЛАЗАРЧЫК Елена sentenced to 9,5 yrs in a penal colony (8+1,5): 1 child # & ##
14. LAZARENKA Anastasiya | ЛАЗАРЕНКО Анастасия sentenced to 6 yrs in a penal colony: 1 child # & ##
15. LIKHACHEUSKAYA Liudmila | ЛИХАЧЕВСКАЯ Людмила sentenced to 2 yrs in a penal colony: 2 children #
16. MALINOUSKAYA Karyna | МАЛИНОВСКАЯ Карина sentenced to unknown yrs in a penal colony: 2 children # & ##
17. MALOCHKA Aksana | МОЛОЧКО Оксана sentenced to 8 yrs in a penal colony: 3 children
18. PAZNIAKEVICH Iryna | ПОЗНЯКЕВИЧ Ирина sentenced to unknown yrs in a penal colony: 1 child
19. PRATASHCHYK Palina | ПРОТАЩИК Полина sentenced to 2 yrs in a penal colony: 1 child #
20. SHCHYRAKOVA Larysa | ЩИРЯКОВА Лариса sentenced to 3,5 yrs in a penal colony: 1 child #
21. SIARHEYENKA Alesia | СЕРГЕЕНКО Алеся sentenced to 3,5 YRS in a penal colony: 2 children #
22. SUSHA Kseniya | СУША Ксения sentenced to 3 YRS in a penal colony: 2 children #
23. USPENSKAYA Maryia | УСПЕНСКАЯ Мария in compulsory psychological treatment: 1 child
24. VAITSIAKHOVICH Volha | ВОЙТЕХОВИЧ Ольга sentenced to 11 yrs in a penal colony: 1 child # & ##
25. VOLKAVA Zhanna | ВОЛКОВА Жанна sentenced to 3 yrs in a penal colony: 2 children
26. ZHALABKOVA Volha | ЖЕЛОБКОВА Ольга sentenced to 2 yrs in a penal colony: 2 children #
We appeal to:
- the governments and parliaments of democratic countries
- representatives of international organizations (including the UN and OSCE)
- human rights and women's rights movements
- everyone who believes that freedom and motherhood are fundamental values
We call on you to demand:
- the immediate release of all women political prisoners
- an end to the persecution of mothers and families on political grounds
- full rehabilitation: the removal of charges and the stigma of “extremist” and “terrorist”
Enough with “regrets” and “deep concern” - it’s time to act!
#Mothers #BehindBars #MothersInJail #Belarus #StateTerror
#FreeBelarusWomen #FreePoliticalPrisoners #FreeThemAll
#HappyMothersDay #Mum #MothersDay #MothersDay25 #Mothersday2025
#bestmum #bestmums #lovemum
Infos & in Media & Useful Links:
12.02.25: Urgent Appeal: Belarus - Women in the Grip of State Terror (belaruswomen.org) |
Экстренный призыв: Беларусь - женщины в тисках государственного террора (belaruswomen.org)
22.01.25: Urgent Appeal: Belarus: Women Political Prisoners of Retirement Age — Every 6th (belaruswomen.org) | Экстренный Призыв: Беларусь: Женщины-Политзаключенные Пенсионного Возраста — Каждая 6-ая (belaruswomen.org)
14.10.24: Urgent Appeal: Women Political Prisoners - Mothers of Minor Children (belaruswomen.org) |
Экстренный Призыв: Женщины Политзаключенные - Мамы Несовершеннолетних Детей (belaruswomen.org)
List & Periodic updates available here:
Списки & Периодические апдейты см. здесь:
Women Political Prisoners | Женщины-Политзаключенные (belaruswomen.org)
Your involvement matters - everyone can join the fight.
Only through collective action can we put an end to repression, protect women’s rights, and return Belarus to the path of freedom, dignity, and democratic progress.
Join the initiative
"Recognition of the FSB of Russia and the KGB of Belarus as Terrorist Organizations"
Support the campaign and sign the petition:
