A lot can happen in three years, for good or for ill. When it comes to Belarus it is sadly the latter. Three years ago this Wednesday, Belarusians went to the polls in the presidential election. Optimism was high that Lukashenka’s reign would finally end, but the elections were deeply flawed and fraudulent. Lukashenka remained.

Worse still, there was a surge in politically motivated and arbitrary arrests, followed by the sentencing and imprisonment of Belarusian people. This included a pensioner who took part in a dancing protest, a journalist reporting on the police’s brutal repression of protests taking place in Minsk, people communicating with friends on Telegram, and myriad others who stood up for democracy and human rights. Lukashenka’s appetite for locking up those who oppose him has not abated in the years that have followed. As of 10 August this year, 1,494 people are recognised as political prisoners in Belarus according to human rights group Viasna. The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) has also recorded 36 media workers, including journalists, currently behind bars. 

If that is not enough, these two bodies, Viasna and BAJ, have themselves been targeted. Viasna’s head Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Viasna’s lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich have all been sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison. BAJ itself has been labelled an extremist organisation, with stiff penalties in place for anyone who shares the union’s logo or website. Both have been liquidated.

First he targets those standing up, then he targets those trying to hold him to account. If Lukashenka continues, who will be left for him to target? That is a question I do not want to know the answer to.

“In prison, the only time you don’t feel the prison atmosphere is in your dreams sometimes”. These are the words of Pavel Mazko, a 19-year-old from Brest in south-west Belarus, who was arrested for participating in protests after the election. It comes from a letter he wrote to his mum, and was translated and published by Index in partnership with Belarusian organisations working from exile. He is one of the 29 political prisoners who Index highlighted to give voice to the thousands currently in prison. Another is Andrei Aliaksandrau. Until 2014, he worked for Index and his continued imprisonment is felt keenly here. In October 2022, he and his wife, Irina, were sentenced to 14 and 9 years in prison respectively. In a letter to his friend Tania, Andrei closes with a heartfelt plea: “I remember and love all of you. Keep writing.” 

Letters, such as those published by Index following the 2020 stolen election, allow us to see through the walls of Lukashenka’s prison. While Lukashenka can lock up those who speak out in opposition to him, by reading the testimonies of political prisoners we make sure he doesn't render them silent. 

In the words of our much-missed colleague Andrei “keep writing” 

Nik Williams, policy and campaigns officer

Send a postcard of support to Jimmy Lai

Left: Painting by Lumli Lumlong. Right: Messages 1..." (2015) by the Hong Kong visual artist, curator and writer, Mei Yuk Wong

Jimmy Lai is a 75-year-old businessman and founder and publisher of Apple Daily, a Hong Kong newspaper that was forced to close in 2021 after the Chinese Communist Party's crackdown on pro-democracy protests in the city. A longtime critic of the party, Lai is one of the most high-profile pro-democracy campaigners to have been arrested in Hong Kong since the Chinese government enacted the National Security Law in June 2020. Lai was charged with violating the National Security Law in August 2020. His trial for that case is scheduled for September 2023, but since his arrest he has been convicted on separate charges of fraud and organising illegal protests.

Index is now launching a campaign to allow Jimmy's well-wishers to send him postcards containing messages of support which we will forward to him in prison. Find out how to take part here.

Report: Chinese funding and academic freedom in Europe

Cover image: Lumli Lumlong

European universities have become increasingly international over the last decade, fostering relationships with researchers, institutions, private companies, and students around the world. While academic internationalisation provides many opportunities, it also presents challenges.

Our new report asks to what extent Chinese money is being used to fund European universities and to what extent is it eroding academic freedom in the process. The report looks at funding from Chinese companies, Chinese international students, and the protections the EU and UK have in place to prevent undue interference.