Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today, another 37 political prisoners were announced to be released. I rejoice for every family that, after such difficult trials, will finally experience the long-awaited happiness of being reunited. I am happy for every child who will embrace their freed mother and hear a bedtime story told by their much-missed father. I am glad for everyone who will be able to kiss their spouse.
This would be hard to imagine not long ago but for several months now, we have seen people being released from prison before the end of their sentences. These are steps in the right direction, and such release campaigns must continue.
At the same time, human rights defenders continue to receive reports of new interrogations, arrests, sentences, and fines. New people become political prisoners. The regime speaks of national unity, yet it divides people into ‘us’ and ‘them’ and continues to strike against ‘them’, sometimes even ‘us’ — to instill fear in others.
In Belarus, at least 120 people are imprisoned for more than 10 years, solely for having the courage to express and defend their views. What kind of national unity is possible when we have not heard from Maryia Kalesnikava, Mikalai Statkevich, Ihar Losik, or Siarhei Tsikhanouski in over a year and a half, while Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski is being denied his medications, and the mother of two sons Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk faces constant torture in prison?
The regime is trying to create the illusion that it is releasing ‘criminals’. But these individuals committed no crimes — they simply had the courage to hold their beliefs. As long as even one person remains behind bars, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that everyone is freed and returned home”.
