Someone close is detained / a political prisoner

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Human rights groups advise reporting the detention to Viasna (@ViasnaSOS) and BYSOL straight away and finding a lawyer.
• Detainees are often pushed into confessing and recording 'repentance' videos, which are later used in the case. It helps if they know they may refuse to testify against themselves.
• Pressure extends to the family, up to declaring it 'socially dangerous' and threatening to remove children. Arrange notarised guardianship papers in advance.
• Contact human rights groups from devices the security services won't check.

current as of September 25. More: Honest People: 'A country of hostages'; Current Time: 'socially dangerous' status and removal of children

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Addresses for letters are on Politzek.me. Human rights groups advise keeping letters neutral, with no politics or other people's names, or the censor won't pass them.
• BYSOL, Dissidentby and Politzek.me help with parcels and legal fees; INeedHelpBY sends food packages to families.
• Helping with parcels has itself led to prosecutions: sending money through funds is safer than paying directly.
• After release: group therapy and support at the Belarusian House in Warsaw, resocialisation help from Dissidentby.

current as of September 25. More: Politzek.me: write a letter (extremist in Belarus); Honest People: 'A country of hostages'; Viasna: guide for families of released prisoners (extremist in Belarus)

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• A donation to an organisation on the 'extremist formations' list is treated as aiding extremism: up to 7 years in prison and being put on the 'extremist list'.
• Human rights groups usually advise against paying from Belarusian cards and accounts — such payments are easy to trace.
• Before travelling to Belarus it is safer to take a separate 'clean' device: deleted subscriptions and chats are sometimes recovered.
• Check a fund's status against the Interior Ministry list: media, chats and aid initiatives are all designated 'extremist'.

current as of September 25. More: npr.by: liability for extremism in 2026; Interior Ministry: 'extremist formations' list