Released / deported

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.

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 (materials deemed '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 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. 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, 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.

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)