Since 1994, Belarus has been ruled by Alexander Lukashenko. For nearly three decades, he has established near-total control over Belarus’ law enforcement, judiciary, and political system, turning the country into one of the most repressive states on the planet. In August 2020, after failing to address the COVID-19 pandemic, falsifying the results of the presidential elections, and committing egregious human rights abuses, Lukashenko faced nationwide protests.

The Belarus Solidarity Fund launched during that time, raising more than $1 million so far in individual donations for direct aid to Belarusian civil society — from activists who face steep fines or arbitrary imprisonment, to journalists who have had to relocate due to the risk of arrest, to workers who participate in strikes at government factories.

HRF’s Belarusian Journalism Initiative has helped dozens of independent journalists and media outlets continue their work after being forced to flee Lukashenko’s repressive regime.