#FreeViasna: Weekly news digest on Viasna’s imprisoned human rights defenders

On September 17, #FreeViasna campaign of solidarity with the imprisoned "Viasna" members was launched. Here’s the latest news about them.

In her recent letter, political prisoner and human rights activist Marfa Rabkova wrote about her love for “Harry Potter” books and thanked for all the letters she received:

“I receive so many kind words about myself that I’ll soon get too cocky. This is very nice, thank you. I am embarrassed by this, I could not imagine that, with the new turn in my life, I would meet so many good people. Fate is ruthless, but the main thing is to behave with dignity under any circumstances.”

Human rights activist Uladzimir Labkovich sent a letter dated of December 14:

“Today is my “anniversary”: it’s been exactly five months since I’ve been in captivity. It is sad, of course, especially if to think that I’m there for an infinite time. I would like to have hope, but it is still cold, humid and no sun here. However, you have to keep going forward!”

Valiantsin Stefanovich, “Viasna” deputy chairman, has been staying in a prison hospital with pneumonia for the last three weeks, but, according to his recent letter dated of December 11, he is already feeling better. In his letter, Valiantsin congratulated his colleagues on the International Human Rights Day and reflected on the current socio-political situation in Belarus:

“Looking back, I’m so proud of what we have done, of our persistent hard work. Work that sometimes looks hopeless, but it may seem so only at first glance. Therefore, dear friends, on our professional day, stay bright-eyed and be proud of what you are doing!”

Valiantsin Stefanovich from behind the bars: "Stay bright-eyed and be proud of what you are doing!"

Valiantsin Stefanovich, “Viasna” deputy chairman, has been held behind bars for five months now. On December 11, he wrote a letter to his colleagues.

In one of his recent letters, political prisoner and blogger Dzmitry Kazlou mentioned how he first met the “Viasna” Chair Ales Bialiatski, who is now also behind bars:

“I met Ales for the first time in Vorša at the end of 2018, at the exhibition “Letters from behind bars” dedicated to letters from political prisoners and the story of Ales himself. I was streaming from that exhibition.”

Over the past week, there was no news from “Viasna” volunteer Andrei Chapiuk and human rights activists Leanid Sudalenka and Tatsiana Lasitsa.