On January 14, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a series of meetings with Belarusians in Warsaw. Together with Pavel Latushka, she met with political prisoners who were deported to Ukraine and transferred to Poland after their release in December.
The political leaders and former political prisoners discussed issues of legal stay, settling into life in Poland, possibilities for further releases, and security concerns. More than 40 released political prisoners who are currently in Warsaw took part in the meeting.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I am deeply impressed by our Belarusians – by the volunteers, initiatives, and the courage of the released political prisoners. No one gave in, no one broke. People believe in our cause, and everyone is doing everything they can. We must protect and support one another. Solidarity is our weapon – it strengthens us and ensures that our cause, our movement, does not fade. I simply want to say a heartfelt thank you to each and every one”.
Prior to the meeting with the political prisoners, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also visited an exhibition that opened at the Free Belarus Museum in Warsaw, “Entry Point – 123”. The exhibition will officially open in a few days. It features around 30 artifacts that belonged to some of the 123 political prisoners deported on December 13: items from men’s and women’s prisons (including objects prohibited in detention), items related to the deportation procedure (a KGB dry-ration package, a balaclava, and others), hidden stashes with tea bags, an aluminum spoon, soap, a cleaning rag, and thermal underwear.
In addition, on January 14, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held meetings with the Head of the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Ukraine, Sviatlana Shatsilina, as well as with representatives of BelPol.
