Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Every day is a reason itself to remind everyone about our political prisoners. Many of them are kept incommunicado. We haven’t heard:
– For 487 days from Ihar Losik;
– For 492 days from Maryia Kalesnikava;
– For 498 days from Maksim Znak;
– For 497 days from Mikalai Statkevich;
– For 501 days from Viktar Babaryka.
I have known nothing about the fate of my husband, Siarhei, for 470 days.
At every meeting with politicians, human rights defenders, and activists, I repeat: People in Belarusian prisons are held in terrible conditions, without any contact with the outside world. The regime is doing everything possible to make people forget about the political prisoners. But we will not let this happen.
I urge all international partners to demand access to prisons and the release of all political prisoners. This is not about politics – this is about people’s lives. And we must be the voice of the political prisoners – and speak even louder about them so that the whole world hears.
Dear friends, if it is safe for you, write letters, donate to the families of political prisoners, and join solidarity rallies. Every small action we take is part of the great help that is very much needed here and now. I am convinced that our solidarity will eventually break down the prison walls”.
