On Thursday, 25 September, Right Livelihood, together with Östgruppen för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter and the Viasna Human Rights Center, opened the installation “Unbreakable” at Raoul Wallenberg Square in Stockholm. Timed to coincide with the birthday of imprisoned 2020 Right Livelihood Laureate and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, the installation drew attention to the more than 1,100 political prisoners still held in Belarus.
Created by a renowned Belarusian artist who remains anonymous for security reasons, the exhibit portrays four imprisoned members of Viasna: Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, Uladzimir Labkovich, and Marfa Rabkova. All were sentenced to long prison terms for their human rights work. Originally, the installation also included Andrei Chapiuk, who was released in April 2025 after completing his sentence.
The installation, part of the global #FreeViasna campaign, has previously been displayed in Vilnius, Brussels, Berlin, Poznań, and Riga. Its arrival in Stockholm symbolised international solidarity with those unjustly imprisoned in Belarus.
Repression in Belarus: selective releases, continued crackdown
Despite recent headlines about prisoner releases, repression in Belarus remains severe. In September 2025, authorities released 52 political prisoners following international pressure, including opposition leader Mikalai Statkevich, who refused deportation and insisted on staying in Belarus, only to be returned to prison. At the same time, independent journalist Ihar Ilyash was sentenced to four years on extremism charges.
These contradictory moves show that while Minsk uses selective releases to gain diplomatic leverage, the systemic repression of civil society, media and political opposition continues unabated.
A call to remember and act
Since the mass protests of 2020, thousands in Belarus have been jailed for peaceful dissent. Sometimes for nothing more than a social media post. Today, nearly 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars, denied family contact and subjected to isolation and ill-treatment.
By opening on Bialiatski’s birthday, “Unbreakable” served both as a tribute and a rallying call. The installation reminded Stockholm’s public, and the international community, that the courage of those imprisoned in Belarus is unbreakable, and that solidarity across borders remains vital.
The installation will remain on display at Raoul Wallenberg Square until 15 October.
Learn more about the #FreeViasna campaign: freeviasna.org
