Ruth Maguire MSP for Cunninghame South has taken on the godparenthood of Kseniya Khоdyrаva, a Belarusian political activist currently serving a five-year prison sentence for supporting opposition movements.
In speaking out about the troubling situation in Belarus, Ruth Maguire highlighted the broader implications for Europe and the importance of defending human rights.
Commenting on the situation in Belarus, Ruth Maguire said:
“The situation in Belarus is a grave warning for all of Europe. Lukashenko’s grab for power in 2020, and the subsequent crackdown on dissent, underscored both the importance of democratic processes and the necessity of defending human rights wherever they are threatened. As authoritarianism looms at the edges of Europe, the need for international solidarity in defending freedom and justice has never been more urgent.”
Ruth Maguire hopes that by raising awareness of Kseniya’s situation, support for her and others like her will continue to grow.
“The resistance of the Belarusian people and the strength of people like Kseniya are testament to their character. Kseniya’s courage in supporting political opposition movements, despite receiving a five-year prison sentence, inspires hope for the people of Belarus and cannot be understated. These simple acts of courage by Belarusians give hope to us all that the stifling atmosphere of political oppression in Belarus can be overcome. In raising awareness of Kseniya’s situation, and what others face every day in Belarus, it is my wish that support for her and others like her grows and we amplify that hope and strength.”
Background
The godparenthood initiative is part of an Libereco’s campaign aimed at supporting political prisoners in Belarus and raising awareness of the ongoing political repression in the country. Libereco is an international organisation for Human Rights, which has dedicated campaign to support the protection of human rights in Belarus and Ukraine
You can find out more about Libereco’s godparent campaign on their website, where you can also find more details about Ruth and her colleagues support for Belarussian political prisoners: https://www.libereco.org/en/.
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 