Belarusians' voices heard even from behind bars: political prisoners on war in Ukraine

Today is the 39th day of Russia's war against Ukraine. The world has learned the awful truth about the atrocities of Russian soldiers in Bucha and other cities of Ukraine recaptured from the occupiers. However, Belarusian political prisoners, whose number continues to grow, are unlikely to read about it in letters or see it on the news. Prison censors have tightened their grip on inmates' correspondence in the last two months. It is also known that some prisoners are restricted even in watching television: they are only allowed to watch government programs that support the Russian point of view. Yet prisoners still have an idea of what is really going on in Ukraine. Imprisoned politicians and activists, human rights defenders, and public figures, even in such a difficult situation, find ways to speak out about Russia's aggression and the involvement of the Belarusian government, as well as to express their support for the Ukrainians. Viasna has collected their statements about the war and the involvement of Belarus.

Human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich: ‘Too bad we're on the wrong side of the fence again’

Valiantsin Stefanovich. Photo: tut.by

Valiantsin Stefanovich, a political prisoner and human rights defender with Viasna, who has been detained in the pre-trial detention center for eight and a half months, wrote in his letter from jail:

“Russia's uncovered aggression will lead to the fact that the world will never be the same again. In a flash, we would return, to a time of harsh confrontation with the West, as in Soviet times. With the Iron Curtain and hysterical propaganda aimed at brainwashing people as the consequences.

Too bad we're on the wrong side of the fence again.”

Politician Mikalai Statkevich: ‘Thanks to Ukraine, Belarus may change much faster’

Mikalai Statkevich. Photo: Uladz Hrydzin

Mikalai Statkevich, a political prisoner and veteran opposition politician sentenced to 14 years in prison, is awaiting an appeal in a detention center. On March 12, his wife Maryna Adamovich visited him in prison. She recites his words about the war: 

“Mikalai learned about the war virtually on the first day, as soon as it started […] Of course, all his thoughts are only about Ukraine. He asked me very much to send words of support to the courageous Ukrainian people who are now fighting the aggressor. Not for a minute does he doubt the victory of the Ukrainians.”

The political prisoner also asked to apologize to the Ukrainian people for him.

“Because the war started from our land. From our currently occupied land.  From our currently occupied land. Mikalai is ready to admit and accept his personal responsibility for it. Just like every one of us.” — Maryna said.

Philosopher Uladzimir Matskevich: ‘Western political elites demonstrated intellectual impotence’

Political prisoner Uladzimir Matskevich

Political prisoner, philosopher, and methodologist, well-known public and political figure Uladzimir Matskevich has been kept in pre-trial detention center for eight months already. On March 4, his sister was allowed to see him in the detention center. The philosopher said that today all his thoughts are busy with the war in Ukraine:

“The response of the EU, the U.S., and NATO to Russian aggression highlights even more vividly the lack of ideology and the intellectual impotence of the political elites of Europe and America. Therefore, we must begin with a critique of the dominant global narrative and start to develop a modern agenda based on a new philosophy. That's what I'm thinking about now.”

Presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka: ‘Belarus being involved in Russian aggression is a natural result of government action’

Viktar Babaryka. Photo: nn.by

Political prisoner Viktar Babaryka, a presidential candidate and former chairman of Belgazprombank, is serving a 14-year sentence in a medium-security penal colony. On March 2, his opinion about the war was published on his official Telegram channel:

“The current situation and the aggression on the part of Russia is originally the result of the actions of one man, brought up and imbued with the spirit of the chekists. It is inherent in him to see only two possible outcomes in life: either we smash, or we are smashed.  
The fact that we are now an aggressor country is, unfortunately, the only natural result of the activities of the [Belarusian] current government. [When you are] unwilling to hear people, cling to power at any cost, turn for "salvation" to the authorities of another country due to the broken economy and society, you become involved on certain conditions in a real military conflict as a completely controllable person.

For us–the Belarusians and our country–this, alas, does not mean anything good. […] People are dying and this is a terrible tragedy and a sad page of our history.”

Member of the Presidium of the Coordinating Council Maryia Kalesnikava: ‘It is not our choice’

Maryia Kalesnikava. Photo: belsat.eu

Maryia Kalesnikava, a political prisoner and member of the presidium of the Coordination Council, head of the campaign headquarters of Viktar Babaryka, is serving an 11-years term in Homieĺ, which is only 40 km away from the Ukrainian border. There she personally can hear military helicopters, fighter jets, and missiles flying over:

“For several days I have been hearing new sounds from here, hostile and frightening. The anger that my country is being dragged into a war against my beloved Ukraine overwhelms me. What we all feared so much–losing our sovereignty and going to war–is becoming a reality.

We can't let that happen. It is not our choice. Our choice is peace, justice, and kindness.”

Ex-lawyer Maksim Znak: ‘I am worried about the economic consequences’

Maksim Znak. Photo: tut.by

Convicted together with Maria Kolesnikova her former lawyer Maksim Znak is serving a 10-year prison sentence. In a letter to his father on March 16, political prisoner wrote:

“There's so much going on in the world that we shouldn't be thinking about what we're going to eat here [in jail], but about how you're going out there. I worry about the consequences, including economic ones. Here [in prison] we will be fine in any case.”

Anarchist Dzmitryi Dubouski: ‘I empathize with those experiencing this madness’

Dzmitry Dubouski

Anarchist activist political prisoner Dzmitryi Dubouski, sentenced to 18 years in prison, spoke out about the war in a letter dated March 14:

“I empathize very much with those people who now have to accept and experience this madness. I am especially worried about my friends and acquaintances, whom I met while I was living there... But apart from being sorry and an inner protest at the perfidy of politicians who make conflicts escalate into wars, there is nothing I can do. In these days and minutes of the ordeal, I cannot be with those whom I would like to be with.

[…] In a word, peace to the people, war to the authorities, if that is the case, and if the state and the authorities have not learned to live without wars...”

Anarchist Yauhen Rubashka: ‘We have to respond with increasing solidarity, horizontal ties, and resistance’

Yauhen Rubashka. Photo: "Belarus 23.34" project

Yauhen Rubashka, a political prisoner and activist of the anarchist movement, wrote an open letter to his comrades on the eve of the trial:

“The world around us became crazier. As if those imprisoned, those living under the occupation of dictatorships, those fleeing repression were not enough. […] As always, authoritarian regimes have little concern for the suffering of the little man. We have to respond with increasing solidarity, horizontal ties, and resistance. […] My moral principle allows me only to urge my comrades to be as honest as possible with themselves about their own inner motives. And in the battle against evil, not to become evil themselves. [...]

Remember, your friend and comrade Yauhen Rubashka is always by your side, no matter where you are. In the name of freedom and life, please take care, my dear ones!”