#WeStandBYyou: New Godparents

As part of our #WeStandBYyou campaign, Katrin Uhlig and Tina Winklmann (both Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, Germany), Thijs Reuten (European Parliament, GroenLinks-PvdA, Netherlands), and Gabriele Bischoff (European Parliament, Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) have become godparents for Dzmitry Kubarau, Iryna Surzhyk, Iryna Takarchuk, and Liudmila Shchamialiova.

Dzmitry Kubarau , born in 1995, is a UX/UI designer who has been imprisoned since August 11, 2020. The court sentenced him to 8 years in a high-security prison for “participation in riots” (Art. 293) and “violation of firearms legislation” (Art. 295). Dzmitry pleaded not guilty, stating that his confession was extracted under torture. While in detention, he was placed in a punishment cell at least five times, during which he developed lung problems. The prison administration was even forced to transfer him temporarily to the medical unit.

Katrin Uhlig is a member of the German Bundestag and the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen party. She is taking on the godparenthood for a Belarusian political prisoner for the second time and states: “Over 1,200 people are currently held in Belarusian prisons and penal colonies for standing up for peace and democracy, human rights, and free elections. One of them is Dzmitry Kubarau. He is a UX/UI designer who was arrested on August 11, 2020, and sentenced to eight years in prison. He is accused of organizing riots. Democracy and freedom are not crimes – they are human rights. For my godchild Dzmitry Kubarau and all others unjustly convicted, I demand the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.”

Iryna Surzhyk was born in 1966 and worked for more than 15 years at AO “Peleng” – the largest development and design company in the optoelectronic industry. Presumably, Iryna was arrested as part of raids at the company that began in the summer of 2024. It is known that in March 2025 she was sentenced to 1.5 years of imprisonment in a penal colony for “incitement to endanger national security” (Art. 361). On May 8, 2025, the KGB placed her on the so-called “terrorist list.”

Tina Winklmann is a member of the Bundestag for the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen. She is taking on the godparenthood for Iryna Surzhyk and is calling for her release: “I am pleased to take on the godparenthood for Iryna Surzhyk, who has been imprisoned since March 2025. I firmly believe that we must work together to defend human rights, freedom, and the right to fair and transparent trials. Iryna Surzhyk was most likely arrested because of a report on irregularities at the production company AO Peleng, based on internal documents. The report described how AO Peleng sought to circumvent the system of Western sanctions. According to Libereco, she is connected to the leaks of these internal documents. Iryna Surzhyk did not receive a fair investigation, and her conviction is marked by a lack of transparency. I call on everyone who stands up for the rights of journalists, whistleblowers, and peaceful activists to show solidarity with Iryna Surzhyk and all political prisoners, and to work for their release.”

Iryna Takarchuk is 65 years old. She is the mother of former political prisoner Volha Takarchuk. She was arrested in January 2024 during a mass raid targeting relatives of political prisoners. First, the KGB interrogated her daughter Volha and eventually took Iryna into custody. In August 2024, the verdict was announced: 3 years in a penal colony for allegedly “promoting extremist activities” (Art. 361-4). In November 2024, the regime added Iryna to the register of “extremists.” Volha and her father were summoned as witnesses against Iryna. However, they were able to avoid impending arrest by fleeing abroad and bringing themselves to safety.

Thijs Reuten is a Dutch Member of the European Parliament for GroenLinks–PvdA. He is taking on the godparenthood for Iryna Takarchuk and speaks out strongly in her support: “I am honored to adopt Iryna Takarchuk as ‘political godparent’. Iryna is 64 years old and is imprisoned in Belarus. The cowardly dictator Lukashenko is afraid of her. She is the mother of former political prisoner Volha Takarchuk. Volha is now free and is now committed to support and free her mother. The fearful dictator and his regime arrested the brave Iryna in a wave of arrests of family and friends of political prisoners in January 2024. Putin’s lapdog Lukashenka finds people who are committed to the freedom of political prisoners a great harm. Iryna was sentenced to go to jail on 23 January 2024 and then in August 2024 in a court headed by Tatsiana Falkouskaya on fabricated charges. That is how it goes with all of the dictator’s political prisoners. I also mention the name of the judge, because these people who continue to support Lukashenka’s regime should also be placed under personal sanctions. Where this has not happened yet, we will work on it. What Iryna did was supporting her daughter and trying to free her. As her arrest and conviction prove, speaking out and trying to free your wrongfully imprisoned daughter takes enormous courage in Belarus. The oppression and terror are immense. Yet Iryna did not shy away and stood up, resisted and took action.”

Liudmila Shchamialiova, born in 1960, is a well-known artist and member of the Union of Artists of the Republic of Belarus. Her works are held in the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, in the Webkunsthaus Gallery (Germany), as well as in private collections around the world. She was arrested together with her husband, Ihar Rymasheuski, in early October 2024. They are accused of participating in actions that “grossly violate public order.” According to Viasna, she is currently being held in pre-trial detention center No. 1 (SIZO-1).

Gabriele Bischoff is a German Member of the European Parliament for the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands. She is taking on the godparenthood for Liudmila and explains her motivation as follows: “As a Member of the European Parliament, I am committed to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law – not only within the European Union but everywhere these principles are under threat. That is why I have taken on the godparenthood for Liudmila Shchamialiova. Liudmila is a courageous artist who uses her creative work to advocate for a free and just society in Belarus. Her art is an expression of conviction, and it is precisely for this that she is persecuted by the Belarusian regime. Her peaceful commitment to democracy and human rights has been brutally met with repression, arrest, and conviction. This is unacceptable. With my godparenthood, I want to make it clear: Liudmila is not alone. We see her, we hear her, and we stand by her side. Her imprisonment is arbitrary and politically motivated. She must be released immediately. Belarus needs a future in which art and freedom of expression are possible, and in which people like Liudmila can express their voice and creativity without fear.”