On May 10, many countries around the world celebrate Mother’s Day.
But in Belarus, under the Lukashenko regime, motherhood has become one of the most vulnerable points of pressure against women.
As of May 10, 2026, at least 16 out of 121 women political prisoners in Belarus are mothers of minor children.
This is about 13% — or every seventh imprisoned woman.
Behind these numbers are children deprived of daily contact with their mothers, families destroyed by repression, and years that can never be returned.
All of these women are imprisoned on politically motivated charges and separated from their families for years.
Sentences imposed on imprisoned mothers range from 2 to 11 years in a penal colony.
Separation from Children as a Form of Punishment
Women convicted on politically motivated charges are separated from their children for long periods of time.
For their children, punishment takes place without trial or sentence: they grow up without their mothers.
Having minor children does not serve as a mitigating circumstance.
On the contrary, families are used as an additional point of pressure.
Separation from children is not a side effect of the system — it has become part of the punishment itself.
They Must Be Released Immediately
We state:
- no woman should be imprisoned on politically motivated charges;
- no mother should be separated from her children because of political repression.
We demand:
- the immediate release of all women political prisoners;
- the full rehabilitation of women convicted on politically motivated charges;
- the immediate release of mothers of minor children as a priority humanitarian group;
- an end to the persecution of women and families for political reasons.
The separation of mothers from their children is unacceptable and inhumane.
This requires an immediate international response.
These 16 Women Political Prisoners — Mothers of 23 Minor Children —
Must Be Released Immediately:
- ABLAB Hanna | АБЛАБ Анна sentenced to 11 yrs in a penal colony #; 2 minors
- ALFIORAVA Neli | АЛФЕРОВА Нелли sentenced to compulsory psychological treatment #; 1 minor (child with disability)
- ALIAKSEYEVA Volha | АЛЕКСЕЕВА Ольга sentenced to 3,5 yrs in a penal colony #; 1 minor
- ALIASHKEVICH Volha | ОЛЕШКEВИЧ Ольга sentenced to 2,5 yrs in a penal colony #; 1 minor
- DAMASTOI Viktoryia | ДОМОСТОЙ Виктория sentenced to 5 yrs in a penal colony # & ##; 3 minors
- KARNIAYENKA Hanna | КОРНИЕНКО Анна sentenced to 5 yrs in a penal colony # & ##; 1 minor
- KASHCHEYAVA Tatsiana | КОЩЕЕВА Татьяна sentenced to 8 yrs in a penal colony; 1 minor
- КMIT Hanna | КМИТ Анна sentenced to 2,5 yrs in a penal colony #; 2 minors
- LAPTSIONAK Nadzeya | ЛАПТЕНОК Надежда sentenced to 4 YRS penal colony # & ##; 1 minor (child with a disability)
- LAZARCHYK Alena | ЛАЗАРЧЫК Елена sentenced to 9,5 yrs in a penal colony (8+1,5) # & ##; 1 minor; HC
- LAZARENKA Anastasiya | ЛАЗАРЕНКО Анастасия sentenced to 6 yrs in a penal colony # & ##; 1 minor
- MALOCHKA Aksana | МОЛОЧКО Оксана sentenced to 8 yrs in a penal colony; 3 minors
- PALYNSKAYA Tina | ПАЛЫНСКАЯ Тина sentenced to 2 yrs in a penal colony; 1 minor
- SHYNKEVICH Tatsiana | ШИНКЕВИЧ Татьяна, sentenced to unknown yrs in a penal colony # & ##; 2 minors
- USPENSKAYA Maryia | УСПЕНСКАЯ Мария in compulsory psychological treatment; 1 minor; HC
- VAITSIAKHOVICH Volha | ВОЙТЕХОВИЧ Ольга sentenced to 11 yrs in a penal colony # & ##; 1 minor
*Abbreviations:
HC - Health Conditions
# - In the "Extremist List" maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus ("List of Persons Involved in Extremist Activities"
## - In the "Terrorist List" maintained by the KGB of Belarus ("List of Persons Involved in Terrorist Activities")
The full list is available here: Women Political Prisoners - Mothers of Minor Children (belaruswomen.org)
What You Can Do
- share this information;
- speak publicly about these women;
- contact politicians and international organizations;
- demand action and accountability.
Public attention remains one of the few tools that can influence the situation of these women.
#Mothers #PoliticalPrisoners #Belarus
#FreeBelarusWomen #FreePoliticalPrisoners #FreeThemAll
Periodic updates available here:
Периодические апдейты см. здесь:
Women Political Prisoners | Женщины-Политзаключенные (belaruswomen.org)
- Women Political Prisoners — Alphabetical List | Список по алфавиту (belaruswomen.org)
- Women Political Prisoners — By sentencе length | Список по срокам приговоров (belaruswomen.org)