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Released / deported

The guides below are drafts: a lawyer has not reviewed them yet. This is not legal advice.

Draft What human rights defenders advise

Released or deported from Belarus
  • 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.

Designations of organisations in this guide: Viasna Human Rights Centre (extremist in Belarus); BYSOL Belarusian Solidarity Foundation (extremist in Belarus); Dissidentby (extremist in Belarus); Belarusian House in Warsaw (extremist in Belarus); Human Constanta (extremist in Belarus); Pashpart.org (Tsikhanouskaya's Office) (extremist in Belarus). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.

current as of 25 September 2026. 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)

Whom to contact

4 organisations
Where you are now

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 abroad extremist in Belarus contact 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.

I understand the risk, continue

Other ways to reach them: website · political prisoner database

@ViasnaSOS

BYSOL Belarusian Solidarity Foundation

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 Belarus contact 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.

I understand the risk, continue

Other ways to reach them: get help · application form

@help_bysol

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.

The only official bot is @dissidentby_bot. It never asks for money or SMS codes.

abroad extremist in Belarus contact 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.

I understand the risk, continue

Other ways to reach them: website

@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. Use WhatsApp or Signal from a phone other than the one you take to Belarus.

Warsaw, Poland extremist in Belarus contact 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.

I understand the risk, continue

Other ways to reach them: website · repressions@belaruskidom.eu · +48 695 807 059

mailto:info@belaruskidom.eu
Possibly not current (1)

INeedHelpBY

Last signs of activity: January 2026. Before writing, check on the organisation's own site that it still works.

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.

Other ways to reach them: contact@ineedhelpby.org

USA; helps in Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia and other countries contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch ineedhelpby.org

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