Belarus Solidarity Foundation

Belarus Solidarity Foundation BYSOL is a non-profit organization established on August 14, 2020, as a response to violence that happened in Belarus after the 2020 Belarusian presidential election. BYSOL is aimed at raising funds to provide financial aid to victims of repression in Belarus.[1]

Belarus Solidarity Foundation BYSOL
Фонд беларускай салідарнасці BYSOL
FoundedAugust 14, 2020
Registration no.305670484
Location
Key people
Andrej Stryzhak (CEO)
Websitebysol.org

History

BYSOL was founded by Belarusians who were forced to leave the country because of the threat of repression. Its first office was located in Kyiv, Ukraine while the organization was registered in the Netherlands.[2] Now, the organization consists of about 15 members,[3] and the majority of them are located in Vilnius, Lithuania. After the team moved to Lithuania, the company was also registered there.

On December 3, 2021, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus recognized the BYSOL Foundation as an extremist group.[4] Creation of an extremist group or participation in it is a criminal offence in Belarus.[5]

Activity

Nowadays, BYSOL has four main assistance programs: support of courtyard initiatives, emergency relocation, support the families of political prisoners and helping those fired for political reasons. The Fund also provides an opportunity to start a personal fundraiser on the website. BYSOL also starts situational campaigns, for example, BYSOL raised funds to help veterans of the Second World War,[6] when the Belarusian government refused to pay pensioners the required annual remuneration in honor of Victory Day, and children whose parents are political prisoners, to cover their school expenses.[7]

In 2020, BYSOL raised €2.9 million to support those fired for political reasons, striking factories, and people forced to relocate.[8]

As for August 7, 2021, BYSOL together with an organization called BY_help have raised about $7.8m to support Belarusians.[9]

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, BYSOL focused specifically on helping evacuate Belarusian political refugees from Ukraine.[10]

For the start of school in 2022, the Belarus Solidarity Foundation, together with the fund "A Country to Live In", the Belarusian community "RAZAM" e.V., the Dissidentby initiative and the Littouwin Lions Club, organized a collection campaign to pay for school supplies for the children of political prisoners.[11]

Fundraising methods

BYSOL uses a variety of fundraising methods. This includes donations and grants.[12] The methods by which the organization transfers money to Belarus remain secret.

Facts

The Belarusian General Prosecutor's Office called covering the activity of BYSOL in their articles is one of the reasons for blocking the Independent Belarus media website TUT.BY.[13][14]

References
  1. "Belarus once cultivated high-tech talent. Now those people are fleeing political crackdowns". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  2. "Кому помогает белорусский Фонд солидарности BYSOL, и при чем здесь криптовалюты". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  3. ""Многие думали, что история со сливами станет фатальным ударом". Поговорили о работе фонда BYSOL с его основателем Андреем Стрижаком". Zerkalo.io. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  4. "Фонд BYSOL объявлен в Беларуси экстремистской организацией". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  5. "BAJ demands to stop using anti-extremist legislation to restrict freedom of speech". Belarusian Association of Journalists. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  6. "Приближается 9 Мая. Как можно поздравить ветеранов и помочь им (в том числе финансово)". TUT.BY. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  7. "Теперь официально: ветераны ВОВ не получат в этом году единовременные выплаты к 9 Мая". TUT.BY. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  8. "Foundation statistics". BYSOL. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  9. "Belarus exiles fear the long arm of the vengeful dictator in Minsk". The Guardian. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  10. "'We have one enemy': The Belarusians who oppose the Ukraine war". Al Jazeera. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  11. "Fundraising for children of political prisoners to be ready for school 2022". Belarus Solidarity Foundation. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  12. Huang. "Dissidents Are Turning To Cryptocurrency As Protests Mount Around The World". Forbes. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  13. "TUT.BY: Independent Belarus media website blocked after series of raids". Euronews. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  14. "На сайт tut.by в Беларуси завели уголовное дело. Сайт заблокирован, 13 сотрудников задержаны". BBC News Русская Служба. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
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