Keeping the memory alive: Interview with our president Lars Bünger
In an in-depth interview with The Philanthropist, our founding member and president Lars Bünger talks about the situation of political prisoners in Belarus, the work of Libereco, and why every letter counts.
Lars Bünger
President
From Friendship to Mission
What drives someone to campaign for people living under a dictatorship for years on end? For Lars Bünger, it was a personal experience: during trips to Belarus and work camps, he met people who listen to the same music and share the same culture—yet risk ending up in prison for their commitment to democracy and human rights.
“The feeling that my friends are unfortunate to live in a dictatorship and we are fortunate to live in a democracy: the experience of this inequality drove me.”
This inequality became the driving force behind the founding of Libereco in 2009. Today, almost all of Lars’ friends and acquaintances from Belarus are either in prison or in exile – including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski.
A civil society in exile
The situation in Belarus has deteriorated dramatically since 2020. The regime has destroyed all opposition, civil society, and free media. All of Libereco’s Belarusian partner organizations are now forced to work from exile.
Despite isolated releases, the number of political prisoners remains alarmingly high: over 1,200 people are currently imprisoned—and the estimated number of unreported cases is even higher. Even after their release, former prisoners remain under constant surveillance and threat.
Why every letter matters!
Can letters from Switzerland really make a difference? Lars Bünger is convinced they can:
“Every letter you send is important. Because regardless of whether each individual letter reaches the prisoners, the Belarusian authorities take note of it.”
When the authorities see that people are standing up for a prisoner, it helps to protect them. And sometimes the letters actually reach their destination—or are handed over to the prisoners as a stack when they are released. These signs of solidarity are an important moral support.
With over 450 symbolic sponsorships of political prisoners by European parliamentarians, Libereco is sending a clear message: We will not forget you!
Join the letter campaign: Support the political detainees in Belarus
Read the full interview by Takashi Sugimoto on the Philanthropist: «Gegen das Vergessen»
From
Lars Bünger
President