An important part of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s working visit to Poland was a meeting with former Belarusian political prisoners. The event was organized by and hosted at the Belarusian Youth Hub with the help of Volnyja, which supports the reintegration and resocialization of political prisoners after their release.
Former political prisoners shared their stories with the Belarusian leader and highlighted the most pressing issues they face in Poland. These issues concerned the legalization of stay, job search, adaptation, and visas for their relatives. Some mentioned that they still do not consider themselves “former” political prisoners because they cannot return to Belarus due to ongoing persecution by the regime.
The Belarusian leader spoke about the work mechanisms of the international humanitarian fund established in Norway to support political prisoners in Belarus and their families. In particular, the parties discussed assistance and rehabilitation for all those who have suffered political repression from the regime.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “These are challenging times for all of us. We need to find and implement solutions to situations that not so many people have faced before. But while some are waiting for changes for the better, others are working on them every day.
I am not only impressed but also grateful to the former political prisoners that despite all the trials, they continue the struggle. Only by uniting our efforts can we achieve freedom for all those unjustly convicted”.
Pictures by Aleh Kulazhanka
