Many political prisoners in Belarus are deprived of letters, phone calls, and meetings. They are isolated from their families and lawyers and denied the medical assistance they need. Incommunicado detention deprives them of any communication with the outside world as the regime tries to make political prisoners believe that no one supports them.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We do not need special occasions to remember how important it is to support our political prisoners. It’s been 443 days since we’ve heard from Maryia Kalesnikava. It’s been 449 days for Maksim Znak. 448 days for Mikalai Statkevich. 452 days for Viktar Babaryka. 438 days for Ihar Losik. For 421 days, I’ve had no information about the fate of my husband, Siarhei.
In every visit, I repeat: people are dying in Belarusian prisons. Political prisoners are held incommunicado and in terrible conditions. I urge international organizations and diplomats to push for access to prisons and demand the immediate release of all political prisoners. In a situation where they are being tortured and denied any assistance, this is rather a humanitarian than a political issue.
Dear friends, please, speak out loudly about our political prisoners. Support them and their families with letters, parcels, and donations if it is safe for you. Help can’t be small. Everything we do contributes to a great cause”.
