Andrei Strizhak Remains At BYSOL Despite The Scandal
- 24.09.2025, 12:26
An independent commission has reported 12 cases of harassment.
A commission for internal proceedings initiated by the BYSOL Foundation has found an ethics violation by Andrei Strizhak. He has been suspended from leadership positions by the directorate, but remains with the foundation. As of September 23, three people had left the foundation's team.
September 24, the commission's final document and the decision of the foundation's directorate were distributed. It is quoted by Radiye Svaboda.
"In the course of its work, the commission recorded 12 cases of two categories (some belong to two categories at once). Of these: 7 - in the category of "sending messages of undesirable character", of which 5 - in relation to the recipients of assistance from BYSOL (in fact - former political prisoners - ed.); 7 - in the category of use of official position, of which 4 - in relation to the recipients of assistance from BYSOL", - says the statement.
Further opinions of the commission, on the one hand, and the directorate and staff of the foundation - on the other - were divided. The commission favored a full termination of cooperation with Strizak:
But the foundation's founder (according to previously published information, Strizak himself), according to the final document, disagreed with the commission's recommendations, calling them "unfair, excessive and disproportionate." He initiated a vote of the foundation's team, two-thirds of which were in favor of continuing to work with Strizhak.
The final conclusion of the foundation's directorate is that Strizhak can be retained by the foundation, and the founding of BYSOL can be transferred to its director Vitalius Mockus:
"A temporary format of cooperation with A. Strizhak is introduced for a period of 6 months: from September 19, 2025 to March 19, 2026.
Strijak is removed from any leadership, representative, and foundation functions at BYSOL - both formally, in a legal capacity, and informally within the organization.
All public statements and interactions with foundation products are made by Strijak as a person who does not formally represent the organization. None of the statements or interactions of this person in the public field is an official position of the foundation"," the statement circulated said. It is reported that as of September 23, three people left the team of the fund.
The head of the BYSOL fund, Andrei Strizhak, was accused of sending photos of his genitalia to Belarusian activists and human rights activists.
July 23, Andrei Strizhak was suspended from the post of the head of the BYSOL fund. The foundation issued a statement in which it noted that on July 22 it started an internal investigation.