Belarus: People need a safe way out now
Campaign content
A teacher answers a question. A journalist reports on a Pride march. A friend shares a message online.
In Belarus, these actions now lead to punishment.
On April 15, 2026, Alexander Lukashenko signed a law that penalizes “disseminating information” that presents same-sex relationships or gender transition as acceptable. It applies to public speech, media, education, and everyday expression.
Penalties include fines, compulsory labor, or short-term detention. The law gives authorities broad power to restrict what people can say in public.
This affects everyone.
It restricts freedom of expression – the right to speak, share information, and take part in public life. For LGBT+ people and those who support them, the impact is immediate. Public visibility disappears. Fear grows.
Many are already trying to leave. Civil society organizations are already reporting hundreds of requests from LGBT+ individuals seeking assistance to move abroad, indicating an urgent need for protection.
In this context, access to visas and travel documents can be a lifeline.
Similar laws in Russia have led to raids, censorship, and people being forced into hiding or leaving the country.
Similar laws have since appeared in other countries – including Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan – spreading the same pattern of censorship and fear.
Now, this approach is being replicated in Belarus.
Governments that have committed to human rights have a responsibility to act. Expanding access to visas and safe pathways is a concrete way to protect people at risk.
Acting now can help offer a way out for those already at risk.
We are concerned about the law recently approved in Belarus that punishes people for speaking publicly about same-sex relationships, gender transition, and related topics.
Under the law’s wording, individuals can be penalized for “disseminating information in any form” that presents these subjects as acceptable. This includes public events, educational content, media reporting, and online expression. The law also places these topics alongside pedophilia, increasing stigma and risk.
While framed as an administrative offense, the law allows for fines, compulsory labor, and detention of up to 15 days. It grants authorities broad discretion to restrict public expression.
These measures violate the fundamental human right to freedom of expression.
Experience from similar legislation in Russia demonstrates the likely consequences. Such laws have been used to shut down organizations, raid events, censor media, and silence public discussion. Many individuals have been forced into hiding or have had to leave the country to ensure their safety.
There is a clear risk that the same pattern will unfold in Belarus.
Civil society organizations are already reporting hundreds of requests from LGBT+ individuals seeking assistance to move abroad, indicating an urgent need for protection.
We urge you to:
– Expand access to humanitarian visas, emergency travel documents, and safe relocation pathways for individuals at risk in Belarus
– Ensure that LGBT+ people and human rights defenders can obtain visas without unnecessary barriers or delays
– Support organizations providing legal, psychological, and humanitarian assistance
– Raise this issue in international forums and call on Belarusian authorities to uphold their human rights obligations
Providing access to visas and safe pathways is a practical and immediate way to protect people facing harm. It ensures that those at risk are not left without options.
States that are committed to human rights have a responsibility to act when individuals face persecution for exercising their basic freedoms.
Oct. 1, 2026
Belarus keeps branding LGBT+ content “extremist”
Oct. 1, 2026
Belarus keeps branding LGBT+ content “extremist”
Belarus's prosecutor general has drawn renewed attention to eight online resources previously classified as "extremist" for sharing LGBT+ content and content about choosing not to have children. Although these designations are not new and are unrelated to the recent law on so-called "LGBT propaganda," the announcement shows that the authorities continue to target LGBT+ information and expression. In Belarus, sharing material branded "extremist" can lead to fines or detention. This puts people who turn to online spaces for information, advice, or simply someone to talk to at risk of punishment for sharing content. It threatens their freedom to speak, seek information, and connect with others, making an already hostile environment for LGBT+ people even more dangerous.
Sept. 8, 2026
Belarus is digging through old posts to punish LGBT+ people
Sept. 8, 2026
Belarus is digging through old posts to punish LGBT+ people
In Belarus, security services are now combing through people’s old posts on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. They’re looking for anything they can use to punish people for what the law calls “LGBT propaganda,” even a single photo, caption, or hashtag. Under Article 19.16 of the Code of Administrative Offences, people can face fines and, in cases involving minors, community service or administrative detention. The risk of criminal prosecution is also real: a 2024 regulation expanded the definition of pornography to include depictions of same-sex relationships, meaning certain content could lead to criminal charges under Article 343 of the Criminal Code. TG House heard from 24 LGBT+ people facing exactly this kind of pressure, and 10 of them had to be evacuated from the country. Only six had any official document proving they had been targeted, and that document is often what immigration officials demand before they will grant a humanitarian visa. That gap means someone can be in real danger right now and still get turned away, because the proof has not caught up with the risk. Sign the petition to help close this gap before more people run out of time.
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