Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I am happy to hear the reports of the release of several political prisoners. I am glad that their families will finally be reunited and the people who haven’t seen each other for weeks, months, and years will finally have the chance to embrace each other and talk.
People are being released on different grounds, and for many, it is a difficult path that involves complying with terms that are hard to accept. This is why I call on everyone not to judge these choices. We have no right to tell people what they can or cannot do to regain their freedom.
Let me say this to every political prisoner: What matters is your freedom and your life, and it is up to you what to do in this regard. No one has the right to decide this for you.
The reality is that detentions in Belarus continue – and the number of political prisoners is growing. More than 1,400 people are still behind bars on politically motivated charges. And some will decide not to accept any deals, while some will never be offered any. This is why we will continue to speak up for these people and do everything we can to secure release for each and every one of them”.
