Professionals, students, and alumni of universities around the world are asking for your support to build and preserve democracy in Belarus.
To date, this open letter has been signed by professionals and graduates of 50+ universities and educational institutions in 20+ countries including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, INSEAD, Cornell, Duke, UC Berkeley, Cambridge, Bocconi, Georgia Institute of Technology, Goteborg University, and Y-Combinator.
For the past 2 months, Belarus has witnessed a wave of peaceful protests of unprecedented scale against the rigging of presidential elections. The former president Lukashenka, who’s been in power for 26 years, is no longer recognized by the EU, USA, UK, Canada, and other countries. In the attempt to hold on to power, Lukashenka’s government responded to peaceful protests with police brutality and mass arrests of over 15,000 peaceful protesters who have been arrested, beaten, and even tortured.
We, the undersigned, implore Belarus' authorities to stop the violence against Belarusian people, release all political prisoners, and arrange for the transfer of power.
The people of Belarus need your help and support to stop the violence of state agencies and facilitate the peaceful transfer of power to the democratically elected president Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
How You Can Help:
I. Fundraising: Financial Assistance to Belarusians who were prosecuted (arrested, fired, denied of salary) as a result of their support of the pro-democracy protests. Due to government-imposed restrictions and the risk of imprisonment, fundraising initiatives are being organized outside of Belarus and are limited in transparency. Vetted initiatives include:
A. Human Rights Foundation is a 503c US-based non-profit lead by Gary Kasparov and in the past Vaclav Havel. Funds donated by individuals and corporations are tax-deductible in the US. The objective of the fund is to provide financial assistance to Belarusians who have been fired as a result of their support for the pro-democracy protests. Recipients are carefully screened in coordination with Belarusian nonprofits, civil society organizations, and international human rights experts. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation.
B. The Belarusian Solidarity Foundation has established a reputation for helping Belarusians impacted by the political repressions. Applications are accepted from those in need and assistance is distributed based on the principle of transparency. The Foundation is legally undergoing the procedure for registration in The Hague, Netherlands. Make a donation through Facebook or PayPal.
II. Raise Awareness of the situation in Belarus by sharing the above information among your social networks, various media channels. Reach out to local, state, and federal politicians to demand a response to the events in Belarus.
III. Get informed: The situation in Belarus evolves rapidly and is covered by most media channels. Follow relevant threads and feel free to reach out to us for more information, clarifications, or a discussion: The Guardian about Belarus and BBC about Belarus.
Stand with us for Democracy and Freedom in Belarus!
Signatories include:
Liana Burtsava, MBA, Harvard, INSEAD, CEO, Connected MBA
Geoff Habicht, Duke, President, Mi-One Brands
Dmitry Birulia, Y Combinator, Co-Founder, Veryfi
Cameron Colby Thomson, MBA, Raikes School, Director, Human Rights Foundation
Hanna Falko, MBA, INSEAD, Investment Associate
Victor Asadchy, Ph.D., Stanford University, Aalto University, Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University
David Kurkovskiy, Yale, UC Berkeley, Ph.D. Candidate
Anton Proshjov, MBA, Ph.D., INSEAD, Finance Associate, Siemens AG
Maxim Sheinin, Ph.D., Cornell University, Associate Director, Global Pricing & Market Access at Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Olga L., Cornell University, Grants and Contracts Coordinator, Institute for Medical Research
Zarina Sullivan, MBA, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M, Financial Analyst, Cetera Financial Group
Aksana Pisetskaya, Ph.D., CUNY, Adjunct Assistant Professor, CUNY
Irena Hefer, INSEAD, Goteborg University, Consultant, Accenture
Neil Sethi, MBA, INSEAD, University of Waterloo, Director of Business Design, Sutter Health
Olga Karavai, Ph.D., CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Researcher, DFis CICECO, University of Aveiro
Alex Gaiduck, Ph.D., University of Chicago, University of Western Ontario, Data Engineer
Jenya Kirshtein, Ph.D., University of Denver, Product Manager / Data Scientist, Enel X
Leila Tovbina, MBA, University of Chicago, Pomona College, VP Marketing, ALG
Artem Cybulski, MBA, UC Berkeley, University of Chicago, VP of Business Development, JMGT
Kseniya Wegbrait, University of California Berkeley, Agile Project Manager, Repay
Andrey Elenskiy, UC Berkeley, Software Engineer, Arista Networks
Maryia Halubok, Ph.D., University of Texas, Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California Davis
Alina East, Georgetown University, Marketing Coordinator, LinkedIn
Volha Liaudanskaya, Ph.D., Belarusian State University, The National Academy of Sciences, Postdoctoral Scholar, Tufts University
Lesya Pishchevskaya, University of California at Berkeley, Columbia University (City of New York), COO & Co-Founder at General Media Group, CEO & Co-Founder at IdealTarget, Growth Marketing Manager at Google via Nelson
Siarhei Mamatsiuk, MBA, Colorado State University, Amberton University, International Liaison, Otter Products
Hanna Sharko, Baruch College (CUNY), Founder, Belarusians Together
Diana Gumbar, Georgetown University, George Mason University, Project Manager, Blackboard
Aliaksandr Kalenik, MBA, INSEAD, Director, PwC
Nataly Yagur, Texas A&M University, Data Analyst, Statoil
Eugenya Sernikova, University of Washington, Business Owner, Global Granite Inc.
Anastasiya Gerasimenko, UC Hastings College of the Law, Perception Options Associate, Aurora Innovation
Katsiaryna Shmatsina, Syracuse University, Research Fellow, Belarusian Institute for Stategic Studies
Viachaslau Bernat, PhD, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, The Scripps Research Institute, Principal Scientist, Quantapore
Mariya Khamiakova, Belarusian State University, School of Business, Economics and Law, Senior Manager, Volvo
Aliaksandr Barysevich, Georgia Institute of Technology, Staff Engineer, Proofpoint
Olga Majitova, New York University School of Law, Director of Legal Affairs, HAS-UWC
Volya Dzemka, Art of Institute of Seattle, Video Editor, BMGF
Anastasiya Serhiyenia, Belarusian State University, Freelancer in Film Production
Raman Vysotski, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Senior Software Engineer
Roman Stefanovich, Touro Law Center, Associate, Martin Druyan & Associate Attorneys
Dzianis Talpeka, Belarusian State Economic University, Engineer, Colex Finishing
Kristina Yarmolich, UC Berkeley, Environmental Consultant, Zero Waste & Sustainability School
Anastasiya Zarko, UC Berkeley, Product Manager, VISA
Ivan Shatsilenia, Baruch College (CUNY), Data Scientist, LenddoELF
Aliaksandra Ramanenka, CUNY School of Law, Attorney, Outten & Golden LLP
Daria Beniash, University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, Masters of Teaching
Pamela Burdak, University of Massachusetts, Stockton College, Founder, and Consultant
Volha Talatynik, Brest State University, Health Care Representative, Maximus
Irena Asakaite, Chalmers University of Technology, Grodno State University, Consultant, Volvo
Tatsiana Degaugue, Northwestern University
Alexander Fillipov, Mogilev State Technical University, Senior Electrical and Controls Engineer, Aerofarms LLC
Ivan Viaranchyk, School of Visual Arts, Designer, Bigstar
Natasha Piatrunia, Ph.D., University of Texas, Ph.D. Candidate
Constantine Sergeev, Villanova University, Data Science Analyst, Wells Fargo
Illena Colombo, Bocconi University, Supply Chain Specialists, 3M EMEA GmbH
Lizaveta Kasmach, Ph.D., University of Alberta, Independent Scholar, FCDO
Natalia TRneo, BSU, Manager, TRG
Vladimir Rzevskij, VGTU, Engineering, AW
Marta Jasinska, Naropa University, Therapist, Fire Mountain Residential Programs
Jana Jonsson, BSEU, Lund University, Business Engagement Manager Finance, Husqvarna
Kseniya Kruchok, University of Saarland, Belarusian State University, Data Scientist, BlockFi
Natalya Kruchok, IAUP, MCO, TPS Real Estate
Dmitry Gorilovskiy, St. Petersburg ITMO University, CEO, Moeco.io
Natalie Oscarsson, Kyiv State University, Investment, EMCG
Akmaral Kamaliyeva, Lund University, Research Analyst, EMCG
Carl-Emil Kjellstrand, Lund University, Founder of Thinnika Tech, Thinnika Tech AB
Herman Jonsson, Chalmers University of Technology, Product Owner, Husqvarna Group
Marina O-Brien-Gamble, UNCA, WCU, APRN, Alii Health Center
Uladzimir Kandratski, MBA, West Texas A&M University, European Humanities University
Yuliya Tarasava, Fairfield University, Co-Founder, CNote
Mara Vitola, University of Latvia, Consulting Manager, Arvato Systems
Evelin Tamm, Uppsala University, Student, Uppsala University
Chiara Laguzzi, Cattolica Del Sacre Cuore, Director, Protiviti
Alina Charniauskaya, University of Michigan, University of Michigan Law School, Associate at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy
Pavel Shliaha, Ph.D., Cambridge University, Postdoctoral Researcher, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Aliaksandra Radzisheuskaya, Ph.D., Cambridge University, Postdoctoral, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center