Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Protection and asylum for human rights defender Olga Karach

Urgent Action

(25.08.2023) Following the denial of political asylum by the Lithuanian authorities for the Belarusian peacebuilder and human rights defender Olga Karach (Volha Karach), the international campaign #protection4olga has just been launched to demand protection and asylum for the director of the organisation ‘Our House‘. She has been fighting for human rights in Belarus for years, including the right to conscientious objection to military service, and is therefore persecuted and faces capital punishment in her country of origin, where she has been labelled a ‘terrorist’ by the regime.

Schutz und Asyl für die Menschenrechtsverteidigerin Olga Karatch

Urgent Action

(25.08.2023) Nachdem die litauischen Behörden der belarussischen Menschenrechtsverteidigerin Olga Karatch politisches Asyl verweigert haben, haben wir die internationale Kampagne #protection4olga gestartet, um Schutz und Asyl für die Leiterin der Organisation „Our House“ zu fordern. Olga Karatch kämpft in Belarus seit Jahren für die Menschenrechte, darunter das Recht auf Kriegsdienstverweigerung, und wird daher in ihrem Herkunftsland, wo sie vom Regime als „Terroristin“ bezeichnet wurde, verfolgt und mit der Todesstrafe bedroht.

Report on the situation of Belarusian refugees in Lithuania

(17.08.2023) Written by International Centre for civil initiatives “Our House” (Nash Dom), Belarus & Lithuania with the support of International Fellowship of Reconciliation – Austria, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, Federation for Social Defence, Germany, Connection e.V., War Resisters’ International, The International Peace Bureau (IPB), Vilnius, 17 August 2023

Read the full report here: Report on the situation of Belarusian refugees in Lithuania – OUR HOUSE (news.house)

Report on the situation of Belarusian Conscientious Objectors and draft evaders in Lithuania

(17.08.2023) In early 2023, around 48,804 Belarusians sought refuge in Lithuania due to 2020 protests and war, with about 55,000 residing there by July 2023. Over 1,165 Belarusians were labeled “national security threats” in six months, often based on past army service or attendance at a cadet academy, lacking specific accusations.

Written by International Centre for civil initiatives “Our House” (Nash Dom), Belarus & Lithuania, with the support of International Fellowship of Reconciliation – Austria, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, Federation for Social Defence, Germany, Connection e.V., War Resisters’ International, The International Peace Bureau (IPB), Vilnius, 17 August 2023

Read the full report here: https://news.house/60784