English / German

In Dictatorships, anyone who stands for democracy and human rights lives dangerously. There are over one million political prisoners worldwide. 

One of them is Maria Kolesnikowa, a flutist, art project manager, and political activist from Belarus. In 2020, she supported later imprisoned alternative presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka and later the candidate from the united opposition, Sviatlana Tichanowskaja. Kolesnikowa was abducted by the secret service KGB on September 7th, 2020, and arrested. A year later, she was sentenced to a further eleven years in prison. In November 2022, Kolesnikowa was placed in a punishment cell under harsh conditions, which led to the deterioration of her health. She is isolated from the outside world and denied contact with lawyers and relatives. Maria Kolesnikowa’s family has not heard from her since February 2023.

Dissidents like Maria Kolesnikowa are imprisoned because they dare to stand against the authoritarian regimes under which they live. They invoked their universal human rights. In prison, dictators seek to silence them and to make them invisible. 

Meanwhile, the dictatorships maintain relations with the German government: They have their embassies in Berlin, and they use their embassies for their efforts to influence politics, media, and public opinion, trying to whitewash their criminal treatment of the political opposition.

We do not want to accept this: To amplify the voices of courageous dissidents like Maria Kolesnikowa, we want to name sections of streets after them - exactly where the dictatorships that imprison them have their embassy headquarters, at their addresses in our capital. 

Visibility is not only politically crucial for political prisoners, it can even be vital for their survival. Those who rebel against dictatorships often risk their lives. Those who remember dissidents protect them. 

That is why we are asking you to sign our petitions. 

Help us rename the street section at the Belarusian Embassy in Berlin (Am Treptower Park 31, 12435 Berlin) to „Maria-Kolesnikowa-Street“. 

Every signature counts and shows: We do not forget them!

More Petitions for renaming streets after prisoners: 

• Rename the street in front of the Russian embassy after Vladimir Kara-Murza: https://chng.it/xjkWXVtpDf 
• Rename the street in front of the Chinese embassy after Jimmy Lai: https://chng.it/KkqY95cXbg  
• Rename the street in front of the Iranian embassy after Narges Mohammadi: https://chng.it/C7MJrsF2pC
• Rename the street in front of the Cambodia embassy after Theary Seng: https://chng.it/z9QxMdKfHr 

About this campaign: 

The petitions are part of the "Address Freedom"-campaign for political prisoners initiated by the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation in partnership with Reporters without Borders, Freedom House, World Liberty Congress, and Raoul Wallenberg Centre (addressfreedom.com). We are in close contact with relatives, legal teams, and former prisoners and have co-published the first handbook for prisoners and their supporters. 

We are aware that the process of officially renaming streets (or parts of streets, as in this campaign) can be long and arduous. However, it is legally possible, and we want to take the plunge. For the political prisoners this is about more than just a street sign. Drawing attention to their situation may not only lead to better conditions of detention but also to their release due to political pressure. 

Now, the Senate of Berlin and the districts must work together. All we need is courage and political will. By signing the petition, we show that we are demanding this.  

Learn more about the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation freedom.axelspringer.com