Marfa Rabkova about the Human Rights Defender of the Year award: "Please, pass on my great thanks for the honor of being given such a distinguished title"

In her letter to Nasta Loika, a human rights activist from Human Constanta, Marfa Rabkova, the coordinator of Viasna volunteers, describes how she celebrated the New Year, writes about the progress of her criminal case, her health status, and daily life, and shares her impressions of receiving the national Human Rights Defender of the Year award.

Marfa Rabkova notes that not all her mail reaches its destination, but she is thankful for the letters she receives:

"Thank you for the congratulations and words of encouragement, they cheered me up :-) <…>

I am fine, as always. The case has already been submitted to the prosecutor's office and will go to court very soon. I assume we will be brought before the regional court. I can't believe that something "new" is going to happen in my life, I am so used to the routine of pretrial detention, with its long groundhog days.

This has its pros and cons. New Year's Eve was fun enough. Better than it was last year. Psychologically, I keep going, though deep inside I feel confused about setting hopes for 2022, for I have experience of false expectations. I had my hopes for 2021, I remember the thoughts I greeted it with. I couldn’t imagine then that I would have to meet the next year here too. But it's okay, we'll get over it. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

I remain one of the most optimistic people in the cell and my neighbors wonder where I get resources to keep going and endure all adversities for such a long time. I am sure, this is, to a great extent, due to the tremendous support and solidarity. The care on the part of my relatives, friends, acquaintances, and total strangers. Many things move me to tears.

A lawyer came to see me just before the New Year and I was told that I had been declared the Human Rights Defender of the Year. It is such an honor, it also made me cry :-) But it seems to me that there are more worthy people who, at the moment, can provide real help. Right now, I am just an outside observer who can only write letters :-)

But in general, this event has inspired me, I'm smiling while writing you these lines :-) Please, pass on my great thanks and deepest gratitude for the honor of being awarded such a high title. I will do my best to educate, impart knowledge and defend human rights regardless of boundaries, time, or place. Regardless of all circumstances".

Marfa also says in the letter that she misses everyone very much, stays strong, and hopes for the best:

"I miss everyone so much, I need hugs, talks, and laughs. And it will all happen, you just have to be patient and be strong.

I heard the verdict in the case of Alinevich and others on TV–this is hideous, of course. From all appearances, I'll get a bit less. Such terrible terms are handed out left and right. But none of this matters at all, no one is going to serve them to the end. I am 100% sure of that.

I understand that mentally, and physically, this is difficult to accept and endure, but there is no choice, we have to do it.

My health is generally fine. Only my teeth are a bit of trouble; on January 31 a part of another tooth, the one at the back, broke off. The old year decided to make my day before leaving. When the case is brought to court, we should try to file a request for calling in a private dentist. Hopefully, the court will be more humane than the investigator. It never hurts to try.

As for the rest, I read a lot, write letters, go for walks, do exercises, and sometimes watch TV. Everything flows at a calm, measured pace. Nothing happens, apart from my neighbors coming and going and some minor incidents occurring. It's OK, I am standing firm and continue to hope for the best. Someday, we will only remember the good moments from all of this and find lots of things to laugh about".

On January 6, Marfa Rabkova turned 27. The human rights defender has a tradition of watching all series of Harry Potter with her husband over the Christmas holidays, but for two years in a row, Marfa has not had that opportunity.

As Joanne Rowling wrote, "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light". We urge you to send Marfa the longed-for letter from Hogwarts by owl mail delivery.

What can be done:

• write an invitation to Hogwarts;
• draw an owl in a letter or make a postcard with it;
• write which character Marfa could be in the cult film;
• copy your favorite passage from a Harry Potter book;
• invent a spell to help Belarusians fight evil;
• recall the things which help you to protect yourself from the darkness now;
• choose Patronus charms for yourself and Marfa and explain your choice;
• describe the new Harry Potter special, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.

A letter or a postcard may be in the open format: write it, post it in social networks with #FreeViasna, #FreeMarfa hashtags, or send it to freeviasna@gmail.com or @spring96info via Telegram.