kompas news as of September 25 RUEN

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Released / deported

Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise

Released or deported from 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.

  • Straight away: let Viasna and BYSOL know. BYSOL gives financial aid to former political prisoners and helps with evacuation and personal fundraisers; in September 2026 it opened an emergency appeal for 25 released people.
  • If you were taken abroad without a passport: ask that country's authorities for a document and status. In Poland and Lithuania, Belarusian House and Human Constanta help; on passports, see Pashpart.org.
  • If you stayed in Belarus, supervision, repeat summons and pressure are possible. Human rights groups advise contacting foundations from devices unlikely to be inspected.
  • Getting back to ordinary life takes time. Dissidentby and Belarusian House run psychological support and groups for former political prisoners; Viasna has a guide for families.

current as of September 25. More: BYSOL: get help (extremist in Belarus); BYSOL: emergency aid for released prisoners, September 2026 (extremist in Belarus); Viasna: guide for the families of released prisoners (extremist in Belarus)

Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise

For relatives of political prisoners: letters, parcels, help

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)

Who helps

5 organisations

INeedHelpBY

Food and household packages for families of political prisoners and people who fled repression. Requests go through partner organisations.

People in Belarus who received the project's help have been prosecuted. Be careful if you are inside the country.

If Telegram doesn't open: contact@ineedhelpby.org

USA; helps in Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia and other countries
Get in touch ineedhelpby.org

Viasna Human Rights Centre

Political persecution in Belarus: advice on detentions and summonses, political prisoner database, support for victims.

Any contact with the organisation from inside Belarus can lead to criminal charges. Use a device you won't take across the border.

If Telegram doesn't open: website · political prisoner database

Belarus and abroad extremist in Belarus
Message the bot @ViasnaSOS

Dissidentby

Help for political prisoners and their families: letters, parcels, 'guardianship', resocialisation and support after release.

They advise against paying from Belarusian cards and recommend using a VPN.

If Telegram doesn't open: website

abroad extremist in Belarus
Message the bot @dissidentby_bot

Belarusian House in Warsaw

Material and psychological help, group therapy for former political prisoners and their families, Polish courses, advice on humanitarian visas.

Hotline +48 695 807 059 (also WhatsApp and Signal), weekdays 14:00–16:00. For victims of repression: repressions@belaruskidom.eu.

If Telegram doesn't open: website · repressions@belaruskidom.eu · +48 695 807 059

Warsaw, Poland extremist in Belarus
Get in touch mailto:info@belaruskidom.eu

Lawyers for political cases →

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