Ales Bialiatski: life behind bars
The arrested Chair of the
Human Rights Center Viasna tries to
use the time he has to spend in custody as effectively as possible. He reads
books, learns English, does physical exercises and writes memoirs about the
literary society Tuteishyia in the
remand jail. He wrote this in several letters to his colleagues.
“I have nothing to do here except for reading and writing letters (which I have
not done for the last 15 years). I am fine. I've got used to the life here. I
watch TV (we have two channels here), learn English and read,” Bialiatski said
in a letter.
The human rights activist notes in another letter that to his surprise, the
library in the remand jail “is not so bad”. “I even ordered Belarusian books
for the next time. Books can be borrowed twice a month,” he writes.
«I've read in Narodnaya Volia about the banned pickets. Maybe my situation will make Belarusian human rights activists act,” Bialiatski hopes.
The 48-year-old human rights activist said he did
“physical exercises to keep myself fit”. “I walk in the yard, do push-ups, jump
and do other exercises. I have good appetite again after a week when I did not
want to eat at all. My health is good so far, as well as mood,” Bialiatski
wrote.
The human rights activist says he is prepared he will be in custody until
trial. “Life stops here for me in comparison with the previous year. But
there's something positive, because I have much time to think. I am not
nervous, I do not make big plans realizing that everything in my life now
depends not on me, but on external factors. In other words, I am floating down
the river of life and get myself prepared for any developments,” Bialiatski
said.
source: www.charter97.org
