Valiantsin Stefanovic: “I firmly intend to endure it all and return to the free world”

Viasna received a letter from Valiantsin Stefanovic, Viasna deputy chair and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in which he talked about his mood, his preparation for the colony, and the passage of time. 

“I'm always waiting for letters. It's only books and letters that keep me going. Everything else here is the same, nothing interesting. The usual jail routine. Some people go out; some people move in. New people, of course, bring some excitement, but not for long. 

A new phase of my life in imprisonment is about to start. I think you already know that our appeals are scheduled for April 21. Then the sentence will take effect, and I could be sent to the prison camp at any moment. On the one hand, I feel a little nervous before this new and unknown stage, but on the other hand, I am so tired of living in this dark and stuffy basement. In these almost two years, I've forgotten what trees and grass look like, what the sky looks like without bars and the horizon. In camp, I would see green grass, trees, and a bright blue sky overhead, just like when I was free. As for camp life, people live everywhere and get used to everything. You should know that I've been fortunate to have good people around all the time I've been behind bars. Paradoxically, there are a lot of good people here behind bars. We are here for different reasons, and there are no angels doing time here, but there is a human in every human being. Even before, I thought there were more good people in the world than bad. And I think so now. And in the camp, I believe I will meet many good people. Humans are humans. 

I'm in a good mood in general, but, of course, sometimes I'm sad; I feel such a longing. You know, on the one hand, I want time to fly by as soon as possible, but on the other hand, I don't want to waste it. 

I have no certain illusions, not anymore. I set myself up for a long parting with the free world, with my beloved, dear people. I miss my children very much. The separation from my family is probably the most challenging thing for me here. No one will ever give this lost time back to me; it's gone, it's gone irrevocably. 

Therein lies the tragedy of this whole situation. Imprisonment is like death. I wrote about it once before. You’re maybe not dead, but you’re erased from life for a long time, and life goes on; it goes on but without you. But I firmly intend to endure it all and return to this world.”

The human rights activist also recalls his fellow from the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Aleh Hulak, who died prematurely at the end of last year. 

“I am so sad about the untimely death of my friend Aleh Hulak. He was so cheerful and loved life so much. Such a shame. I often have a conversation with him in my head. I tell him funny prison stories, and he laughs with his merry laughter”, wrote Stefanovic.

Valiantsin Stefanovic also noted that he had already read everything of Sergei Dovlatov and had discovered works of Haruki Murakami; he recommends reading books by Milan Kundera and Artur Klinau.

Valiantsin Stefanovic was convicted along with Ales Bialiatski and Uladzimir Labkovich to lengthy jail terms on absurd charges of "smuggling by an organized group" and "financing of protests" in 2020. On April 21, the Minsk Municipal Court will consider Viasna rights campaigners’ appeal and the prosecutor's protest against the verdict.