June 2026
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Before It Is Too Late: A Warning to Europe — A Letter from Olga Karach
Ställ om!, a Swedish digital magazine focused on peace and climate justice published Olga Karach’s letter. It discusses the difficult situation faced by Belarusian political refugees in Lithuania. Olga Karach warns that Latvia’s retreat from international human rights commitments is not an isolated political episode, but an alarming sign of an authoritarian turn in the…
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A Black Candle for Chernobyl — An Article in Ställ om! Magazine
Ställ om!, a Swedish digital magazine focused on peace and climate justice, published an article by Olga Karach written for the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. The text marks the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster and argues that nuclear power remains inseparable from political secrecy, military risks, and long-term environmental danger. It presents…
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Call to Action: Seeking Justice for the Murder of Political Cartoonist Semyon Skrepetsky
Russian political cartoonist and artist Semyon Skrepetsky was shot dead in Poland after years of criticizing war, authoritarianism, and political violence. This appeal calls on European institutions to ensure an independent investigation and to address the broader threats facing artists, journalists, and political exiles across Europe. The killing of Semyon Skrepetsky raises questions that extend…
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The European Parliament Supports Our House’s Campaign for the Release of Aliaksandra Pulinovich
The European Parliament has demanded the immediate release of Aliaksandra Pulinovich and all political prisoners in Belarus. On 18 June 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation of political prisoners in Belarus, paying particular attention to the case of the minor political prisoner Aliaksandra Pulinovich. Members of the European Parliament demanded her…
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Killing of Artist Semyon Skrepetsky in Poland: Rights Defenders Urge UN Scrutiny of Public Exposure of Personal Data
A Belarusian human rights organisation in exile has appealed to UN Special Rapporteurs following the killing of artist and political cartoonist Semyon Skrepetsky in Poland. The appeal asks whether publicly accessible databases containing personal information can endanger artists, journalists, and political exiles. This communication was submitted to several UN Special Rapporteurs in response to the…
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Formal Compliance with the WFD Without Full Achievement of Environmental Objectives (Lithuania)
Lithuania meets EU water policy requirements, yet many rivers still fail ecological standards Country: Lithuania (in the EU context) Problem formulation As an EU Member State, Lithuania formally complies with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), including the development of river basin management plans, the implementation of monitoring programmes, and the submission of…
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Swedish Magazine Publishes Our House Statement on Chernobyl and Nuclear Risks
Swedish magazine highlights Our House action marking Chernobyl’s legacy and nuclear risks. The Swedish peace and climate magazine Ställ Om! has published information about the action and public statement of Our House dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The publication reminds readers that on 26 April 1986, the explosion at the…
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Media Report Deportation of Russian Deserter from Lithuania, While Authorities Say He Left Voluntarily
The Telegram channel and human rights media outlet focused on Russia, Slovo Zashchite (“A Word for the Defence”), reported that a young Russian serviceman who had previously applied for asylum in Lithuania was deported to Russia. The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service says that the man himself withdrew his asylum application and agreed to return…
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Our House Appeals to Cultural Organizations over Skrepetsky’s Murder
ICHRI «Our House» Appeals to Cultural Organizations, Calling for a Response to the Murder of Artist Semyon Skrepetsky The Belarusian human rights organisation Our House (Nash Dom), currently operating in exile in Lithuania, has appealed to international cultural and artistic freedom organisations, calling for a response to the murder of Russian artist, political cartoonist, and…
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Lithuania Deported a Russian Deserter after Six Months of Continuous Detention
A Russian deserter who fled the war in Ukraine and requested asylum in Lithuania spent nearly six months continuously deprived of liberty before being returned to Russia. His subsequent arrest raises serious concerns about the handling of asylum claims and compliance with international protection obligations. The public version of the case is based almost entirely…
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Humanitarian Assistance as the Restoration of Human Dignity and Social Trust
Beyond food and shelter, humanitarian aid can help people reclaim dignity, trust, and hope for the future. Introduction Over the past six years of working with refugees, forced migrants, deserters, conscientious objectors, former military personnel, and people affected by war and political repression, we have come to understand that humanitarian assistance is far more than…
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An Unexpected Supporter: Alexander Lukashenko Backs Our House’s Demands for a New START Treaty
As you may know, on 5 February 2026, the New START Treaty between Russia and the United States expired. Since then, around the 5th day of every month, Our House has been holding protest actions in Vilnius with one simple demand: resume negotiations on nuclear arms control, begin work on a new START agreement, halt…
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Lukashenko has joined Our House’s anti-nuclear campaign
Our hints have been heard — and even accepted — even by the person from whom we least expected it. «I support nuclear disarmament. And this should apply to everyone: Russia, the United States, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, and other countries. It should apply to everyone». Alexander, our darkness, Grigoryevich, has wandered over to the…
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Russian Artist and Cartoonist Semyon Skrepetsky, Who Criticized War and Dictatorships, Shot Dead in Poland
Dear friends! On 15 June 2026, Russian artist, cartoonist, and political émigré Semyon Skrepetsky (Robert Kuzovkov), known for his satirical works directed against authoritarianism, war, militarism, and political violence, was killed in the Polish city of Biała Podlaska. According to Polish media reports, the artist was shot dead in a daytime armed attack. Polish law…
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Hydromorphological Changes and Infrastructure Pressure on the Neris River (Lithuania)
Engineering interventions in the Neris River raise concerns over ecosystem degradation and environmental sustainability Country: Lithuania Problem formulation Within the territory of Lithuania, the Neris River is subject to hydromorphological alterations associated with engineering interventions and infrastructure projects. These interventions are intended to modify key characteristics of the river, including depth, flow dynamics, and channel…
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Lithuania: Use of the Neris River as a Logistical and Strategic Military Corridor
Lithuania’s plans to use the Neris River as infrastructure raise environmental and policy concerns Country: Lithuania Problem formulation In Lithuania, the Neris River is considered not only as a natural ecosystem but also as a potential logistical, transport, and, in a broader context, strategic military corridor. This perspective is reflected in projects and public discussions,…
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Four Months Without New START: Our House Rallies Against Nuclear Threats in Vilnius
Belarusians in Vilnius marked four months without the New START treaty. On 7 June, Belarusians in Vilnius gathered at Kudirkos Square for an anti-nuclear action marking four months since the expiration of the New START Treaty, the last remaining agreement limiting the strategic nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia. The treaty expired on…
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Conscientious Objection, Former Combatants and Democratic Security: Preventing the Reproduction of War in Eastern Europe
Context Core challenge: War creates not only destruction, but also the people through whom it can return. Security rationale: Supporting conscientious objectors, deserters and former combatants is not only a humanitarian or social policy concern. It is an investment in preventing future violence and reducing the risk of renewed escalation. Target groups: Former combatants, conscientious…
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Olga Karach Labeled an “Extremist” for the 26th Time
On 2 June 2026, the Hlusk District Court of the Mogilev Region issued yet another ruling declaring information resources associated with Olga Karach to be “extremist materials.” According to the court’s decision, the Facebook account named «Olga Karach» was designated as extremist material and is subject to immediate enforcement. The ruling was issued by the…
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Those Who Never Make It into the History Books
They left no monuments, won no medals, and rarely appear in history books. Yet their quiet courage may be among war’s most important stories. When we speak about war, we tend to think first of shattered cities, of lives lost beneath bombardment, of shifting borders, or of armies colliding on the battlefield. Yet every war…