“It has been two years since I last heard any news about Siarhei. For two years, I’ve been feeling constant anxiety and fear. Every day, I am tormented by questions that no one can answer. ‘How is he feeling today?’ ‘Is he allowed to go outside?’ ‘What is his health like?’
I often think back to the days when we were together. One of the happiest days of my life happened a few years before 2020. Siarhei, Ahniya, Karni, and I were at our summerhouse. The children were playing on a playground we built with our own hands. My husband and I were grilling kebabs, talking about our plans for the summer. I remember the sound of the children’s laughter, the warm June air, and the scent of blooming lilacs.
In recent years, I have traveled to dozens of countries, spoken with hundreds of politicians and diplomats, and met world leaders. But no single day can replace a simple summer evening when our family was together. Beyond depriving us of our freedom and home, the regime has also kept us apart from those we love.
I know I am not alone in my grief. Hundreds of children are waiting for the day they can hear their father’s voice and feel his embrace again. Hundreds of wives endure the pain of separation from their husbands, cherishing memories of dinners spent together. It is not easy to stay strong year after year, but none of us carry this burden alone.
When I stand among Belarusians and see how our pain and anger drive us to change the situation in Belarus, I feel as though that summer evening with my family is coming a little closer. We will not stop until all our loved ones come back home. And then, Belarus will become a country where no one has to live in fear for their family every single day”.
RFE/RL and Voice of America‘s Current Time recently released a Russian-language documentary about Siarhei Tsikhanouski.
