Mariyia Kalesnikava is one of the 10 people Amnesty International is uniting behind for this Write for Rights 2024 – the worlds biggest human rights event.
Maryia has been arbitrarily detained for four years for her prominent role in the 2020 election and subsequent peaceful protests in Belarus. On 7 September 2020, she was abducted by the Belarus authorities, detained, and later sentenced to 11 years in prison on false charges.
Amnesty International is calling on the Belarus authorities immediately release Maryia. She is imprisoned in terrible conditions; held for over 500 days incommunicado, with limited access to the healthcare she needs.
After a new request, and a year of no contact with her family, in November Maryia’s father was able to visit. Tatsiana, Maryia’s sister, said ‘We are very happy that our dad was able to visit Maryia. The key is that Masha (Maryia) is alive.’
Whilst this meeting is a sign of hope, Maryia’s situation remains dire, and she needs our support now more than ever. After standing up for her people, and continuously spreading the message of love, we need to let her know she is not alone.
Join us in sending Maryia messages of hope and solidarity. Let her know you support her in her fight for human rights in Belarus. A letter can change someone’s life. That’s the idea behind Write for Rights, our global letter-writing campaign.