Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “It has been 550 days since I last heard from Siarhei. For 550 days, I haven’t known if he sees the letters from Ahniya and Karnei, who wait for their father every day. Not hearing from him for so long feels like one endless, painful day. Incommunicado detention is an unbearable burden for everyone waiting for even a single line from a loved one behind bars. You can’t even begin to imagine what political prisoners feel when the regime tries to break their will by cutting off contact even with their closest ones. Incommunicado detention is not just a lack of communication; it is a cruel form of torture.
Every day, this silence fills with uncertainty and anxiety. But in moments of confusion, I remember how Siarhei always inspired me with his courage and strength. Even now, from time to time, people who have seen him in prison tell me about him. They say that even in confinement, he remains resilient, and this gives me the strength to keep going.
Dear friends! Every letter and every postcard to our political prisoners is not just words on paper. It is our way of showing that we stand by them and are eagerly waiting for them to be free. Write to those in isolation and help their families if it’s safe for you. Every word truly can provide support, even if it seems like no one will read it”.
