Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Stere, during a meeting with the leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said that Norway contributes 10 million NOK (850 thousand euros) as the first contribution to the International Fund for the Support of Belarusian political prisoners.
The creation of this fund was initiated by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Money will go through it, in particular, for medical care and rehabilitation, material and psychological assistance to released political prisoners and persons subjected to political repression.
The fund will be managed by Belarusian organizations and initiatives that help political prisoners, Tsikhanouskaya’s press service reported after the meeting in Oslo.
It also became known that the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on formalizing the work of this fund. Other governments, international organizations and potential donors will be able to contribute to the fund.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took the initiative to create such a fund after Belarusian political prisoner Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.