The guides below are drafts: a lawyer has not reviewed them yet. This is not legal advice.
Draft What human rights defenders advise
Someone close has been detained in Belarus
Human rights groups advise reporting the detention to Viasna (@ViasnaSOS) and BYSOL and finding a lawyer. Both are designated 'extremist' in Belarus, and contact with them can lead to prosecution. If you are in Belarus, pass on information through a trusted person abroad, or from a device that is not checked, over a secure channel.
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.
Designations of organisations in this guide: Viasna Human Rights Centre (extremist in Belarus); BYSOL Belarusian Solidarity Foundation (extremist in Belarus). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
For relatives of political prisoners: letters, parcels, help
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, so sending money through funds is safer than paying directly. But people in Belarus have also been prosecuted for receiving help from funds designated 'extremist'. Ask the fund itself how to receive money more safely.
After release: group therapy and support at the Belarusian House in Warsaw, resocialisation help from Dissidentby.
Designations of organisations in this guide: BYSOL Belarusian Solidarity Foundation (extremist in Belarus); Dissidentby (extremist in Belarus); Politzek.me (extremist in Belarus); Belarusian House in Warsaw (extremist in Belarus). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
Shows those who help where you are now. The choice works only on your screen.
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.
The only official bot is @ViasnaSOS. It never asks for money or SMS codes.
Belarus and abroadextremist in Belaruscontact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch ↓
In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.
Money and fundraisers for political prisoners and their families, help with relocation, lawyers and medical care. The hotline can advise on risks before a trip.
The only official bot is @help_bysol. It never asks for money or SMS codes.
abroad (Vilnius)extremist in Belaruscontact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch ↓
In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.
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.
The only official bot is @dissidentby_bot. It never asks for money or SMS codes.
abroadextremist in Belaruscontact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch ↓
In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.
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. Use WhatsApp or Signal from a phone other than the one you take to Belarus.
Warsaw, Polandextremist in Belaruscontact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch ↓
In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.
Human rights organisation: monitoring, analysis and explainers on human rights in Belarus.
The organisation itself warns that any interaction with it from Belarus may be treated as an offence and lead to criminal liability.
abroadextremist in Belaruscontact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch ↓
In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.
Help for journalists and media workers: legal and material support, monitoring of persecution.
abroadextremist in Belaruscontact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch ↓
In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.
Last signs of activity: January 2026. Before writing, check on the organisation's own site that it still works.
Database of Belarusian political prisoners with addresses for letters, fundraising for lawyers and parcels.
abroadextremist in Belaruscontact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch ↓
In Belarus this organisation is designated 'extremist'. If you are in Belarus or will travel there, write to it only from a device you will not take across the border and that is not checked.