August 14, 2025 

To Members of Parliament, Government Officials, Human Rights Organizations, and Media Outlets 

Dear Colleagues and Friends: 

RE: URGENT APPEAL – FOREIGN POLITICAL PERSECUTION OF BELARUSIAN-CANADIANS BY THE LUKASHENKA REGIME 

We write to draw your attention to a dangerous escalation in the Belarusian regime’s campaign of repression—one that now directly targets Canadian citizens and residents of Belarusian origin. 

The Belarusian Canadian Alliance (BCA), a Canadian non-profit established in 1948, represents generations of Belarusian-Canadians dedicated to preserving our cultural heritage and advocating for democracy in Belarus. Today, we find ourselves the target of unprecedented extraterritorial persecution. 

What is happening 

• Belarusian-Canadians who own or rent property in Belarus have been informed—through family members still in Belarus—that they are under criminal investigation. 

• Relatives in Belarus have been forcibly summoned for interrogation and pressured to testify against their Canadian family members. 

• Belarusian police and KGB have conducted searches and imposed control measures on these properties. 

• Multiple Belarusian court rulings have declared the BCA’s social media channels “extremist,” using this as a legal pretext to launch further prosecutions. 

Why this matters for Canada 

This is not simply harassment—it is a deliberate and calculated attempt by the Lukashenka regime to export its repression, intimidate Canadians on Canadian soil, and dismantle a respected community organization that has been a voice for democracy for over 75 years. For decades, our organization has stood for human rights, supported the Belarusian diaspora, and advocated for a free and democratic Belarus. 

The regime’s actions violate the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international law. They also pose a direct threat to Canada’s sovereignty by enabling a foreign regime to target and intimidate people within our borders. 

Action 

We strongly condemn these actions and call on democratic governments, human rights organizations, and global leaders to speak out against these practices, demand accountability, and ensure the protection of Belarusian-Canadians abroad. Canada must stand firm in defending its citizens and residents from foreign political persecution. 

In this respect, we call on the Government of Canada, human rights defenders, and democratic allies to: 

1. Publicly condemn these actions by the Lukashenka regime and affirm Canada’s commitment to protecting its citizens and residents from foreign persecution. 

2. Raise the issue with Belarusian authorities, both bilaterally and through international forums. 

3. Investigate and monitor cases where Canadians face reprisals or intimidation by foreign governments. 

4. Strengthen sanctions against Belarusian officials and institutions engaged in extraterritorial repression. 

5. Ensure support and protection for targeted individuals, including legal and consular assistance. 

The Lukashenka regime’s new tactics represent a dangerous precedent. If left unchallenged, they will embolden authoritarian governments worldwide to target diaspora communities with impunity. 

We urge you to act swiftly and decisively. The BCA will continue to stand for human rights, democracy, and the dignity of all Belarusians—both in Belarus and abroad. 

Together, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to democracy, human rights, and multiculturalism—and to the vision of a free and democratic Belarus. 

Long Live Belarus! Zhyve Belarus! 

Yours sincerely, 

Board of Directors 

Belarusian Canadian Alliance