In July, American Councils for International Education welcomed a distinguished group of Belarusian professionals, all of whom carry a legacy of advocating for the rights of political prisoners. Among them were individuals who have experienced imprisonment themselves, underscoring the deep personal commitment driving their work. This delegation traveled to the United States to participate in an intensive Open World program focused on addressing and advocating for the rights of incarcerated individuals.
According to a March 2024 article published by Freedom House, an estimated 1,400 political prisoners are currently incarcerated in Belarus under severe conditions. Despite international sanctions, the number of political prisoners in Belarus continues to rise.
The program, organized by the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) in Baltimore, facilitated engaging discussions with experts in incarceration, freedom of speech, and human rights law. The delegates met with representatives of PIVOT Baltimore, a nonprofit offering comprehensive services to women re-entering society after incarceration, and Shepard Pratt, a leading provider of mental health and social services.
During their visit to Washington, DC, the participants engaged in a roundtable discussion hosted by Freedom House. The discussion was attended by representatives from the American Bar Association, the Eurasia Foundation, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State, the Brookings Institution, and members of the U.S.-Belarusian diaspora. The group also met with the Legislative Director of Congressman Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 7th congressional district. Their visit culminated in conversations with U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officers from the Belarus Desk and international human rights lawyer Jared Genser of Perseus Strategies LLC, a firm specializing in human rights, humanitarian efforts, and corporate social responsibility.
The group returned to Baltimore for a workshop led by Leonice Byimana, Director of U.S. Clinical Programs at the Center for Victims of Torture, which focused on developing programs to support survivors. Participants Alana Gebremariam and Volha Zazulinskaya, were featured in a panel discussion as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series, hosted by the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs and WTCI.
The week concluded with a meeting with representatives of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical team at the Veteran Affairs Maryland Health Care System. Participants and representatives discussed long –term care options and community outreach programs. Reflecting on the experience, Maryna Kasinerava, founder of Dissidentby—a grassroots organization supporting political prisoners in Belarus—shared that while the program was enriching, it also highlighted the ongoing challenges in the fight for freedom. "Once again, we are reminded that there are no simple answers, and every inch of freedom must be fought for without retreat," said Ms. Kasinerava.
American Councils is honored to collaborate with the Congressional Office of International Leadership (COIL), host organization WTCI, and partner organizations committed to advancing human rights. We remain in solidarity with political prisoners and their families around the globe.
About Open World
Funded by U.S. Congress and administered by the Congressional Office for International Leadership, the Open World Program brings emerging leaders from Europe and Eurasia to the United States for 10 days of intensive exchange with their professional counterparts.
Since Open World launched in 1999, nearly 23,000 individuals from a wide variety of professional fields have traveled to over 2,000 communities in all 50 states to meet and share knowledge with their professional colleagues, and to learn about life in the United States. American Councils is a proud logistics partner for Open World.
About American Councils Belarus
For more than 25 years, American Councils in Belarus has maintained a vital link between qualified, seasoned professionals and Belarusian citizens interested in pursuing academic and professional opportunities throughout the world. The office was among the first international NGOs to open in Minsk 1993, with regional offices subsequently established in Brest, Homiel, Mahilyow and Viciebsk. These offices were consolidated in 2003 (Minsk, Homiel, and Mahilyow) and then closed in 2008. American Councils Belarus moved offsite to Lithuania in 2009, re-establishing a permanent office presence in 2015 and has since been expanding program activity throughout the Baltics.