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Families cling to hope in Belarus after the first release of political prisoners

BBC Dmitry Luksha - recently released from prison (journalist - served 4 years until parole this summer)BBC

Sentenced to four years for his work as a journalist, Dmitry Luksha was suddenly released

Dmitry Luksha built his muscles breaking rocks in a Belarusian prison, working with men convicted of murder and drug trafficking.

The journalist was arrested in 2022 and sentenced to four years for his reports on the 2020 mass opposition protests and his country’s participation in the all-out invasion of Ukraine.

But he was recently released early, one of several political prisoners released this summer in a series of surprise amnesties.

It has given hope to the relatives of some that more releases may follow.

“One day they called me, and a man from the prosecutor’s office just asked me, ‘Do you want to go home?’,” recalled Dmitry, who is now in Poland with his wife, Polina.

He was convicted as an “accomplice” and the couple were released at the same time.

The human rights organization Viasna counts that 78 political prisoners have been granted amnesty in the past few weeks. Many have serious health conditions, but not all. The conditions for early discharge are unknown.

Like everyone else, Dmitry had to ask for an official pardon from the leader of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

Getty Images Alexander Lukashenko (left) and Vladimir Putin talkingGetty Images

Alexander Lukahsenko (left) survived in power thanks to the support of Vladimir Putin

Four years ago, the dictator was nearly forced from power by massive street protests that ended with police brutality and mass arrests – and Russian political support.

With another election to be held next year, perhaps as soon as February, Lukashenko may be hoping for an image boost: state propaganda channels have been presenting the amnesty as a “humane” act of a “wise” leader.

Dmitry Luksha is not sure about the real motive or why he was chosen: “Maybe those who started this process, the arrest, realize that they have gone too far. I don’t know.”

But he says that “20-30%” of all the prisoners in the prisons where he was imprisoned were there for political reasons.

They are marked with a yellow logo sewn on the chest for easy identification.

“It’s a happy time to be at home. Of happiness. To hug our families and breathe easy again,” said Dmitry.

“The important thing is that this program is happening. And so that it doesn’t stop.”

‘Killing him slowly’

The unexpected release gave hope to some families of prisoners, including those of high-profile prisoners like Maria Kolesnikova.

“I believe that this is the moment when Lukashenko starts sending signals to the West that he will be ready, in the future, to negotiate about the extradition,” said Maria’s sister Tatsiana Khomich.

For him, the need is urgent.

RAMIL NASIBULIN/BELTA/AFP Maria Kolesnikova, the last remaining protest leader in Belarus, shows emotion inside the defendant's cage during her trial on charges of undermining national security, plotting to usurp power and creating an extremist group. September 6, 2021 in Minsk.RAMIL NASIBULIN/BELTA/AFP

Maria Kolesnikova helped lead peaceful protests in 2020, now her sister fears her life is in danger

The conditions under which Maria is kept are “slowly killing her,” her sister warned. “I think either way [possible] it should be used to help him. To save him. Because his condition is critical.”

Former striker, Maria Kolesnikova helped lead peaceful street protests in 2020, gaining popularity for her seemingly limitless energy and optimism. He was later sentenced to 11 years for “conspiracy to seize power”.

He underwent emergency surgery in prison for a puncture wound and is reported to have lost at least 20kg (three stone), and now weighs only 45kg. You are denied extra packages or money for special meals you need.

“Maria is dying of hunger in the colony. I believe that he has already passed the critical weight loss that puts his life at risk,” continued his sister.

Tatsiana gets glimpses of information about other prisoners only when they are released, because since March 2023 Maria is kept in the penal cells.

He is in solitary confinement, no phone calls, letters or visits. For months at a time, he can be denied even half an hour every day walking around the small roofed prison yard.

Tatsiana Khomich, Maria Kolesnikova's sister

Tatsiana Khomich is very afraid of what happened to her imprisoned sister

“We have seen that the international community did not react in time to the case of Alexei Navalny,” said Tatsiana, recalling the Russian opposition activist who died suddenly in prison as negotiations continued on the deal to release him.

“They drank too much and were indecisive.”

Finally, a major prisoner exchange with Russia took place – including known Russian dissidents – and that gave Tatsiana hope.

“We have seen that everything is possible. We saw that you can negotiate during the war, or the Cold War. You can negotiate with people you called terrorists, or a dictator.”

There are others who sense a moment of opportunity with the Belarusian leadership: signs that it wants to re-engage with the outside world.

“I think Lukashenko’s regime is interested in avoiding being part of Russia. That is why they want to communicate with the West. That’s why they release the prisoners,” argued Ryhor Astapenia, a Chatham House Belarus analyst based in Warsaw.

Pursuing more, and more prominent, releases of prisoners may be one way to go, in any attempt to “separate” Minsk from Moscow.

But that very approach remains controversial, given Alexander Lukashenko’s key role in supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine.

It is also difficult to see the original release as any real meltdown, as repression continues.

Getty Images Police arrest a man during a rally protesting the results of the presidential election in Minsk on September 13, 2020.Getty Images

Belarusian authorities brutally suppressed anti-government protests in 2020

Ryhor Astapenia himself was recently sentenced to 10 years in absentia, along with other academics and analysts, for alleged conspiracy against the government.

After arresting political activists and journalists in Belarus, prosecutors turned their attention to those who criticized the country abroad.

“They did it because they knew how,” he shrugged. “They see no reason to stop.”

It was two years after the mass protests of 2020 that the police turned on Dmitry Luksha. At that time he thought he was safe.

“Those two years were a disaster for me,” he knows now, having spent 28 difficult months in prison.

When he was released, unexpectedly, he thought he would stay in Belarus. But that was impossible.

“I jumped whenever the elevator opened. Or when a cab comes along with tinted windows. And there were many armed police on the street,” explained Dmitry, from the safety of Warsaw where tens of thousands of other Belarusians now live, for similar reasons.

“You understand that you didn’t do anything wrong, they shouldn’t come to you. But you can’t tell your heart that. It is the brutal Belarus of today, and your heart is afraid.”

This is why Dmitry hopes that the amnesty will continue, regardless of what drives the process: Viasna still counts 1,349 political prisoners in Belarus.

“I hope that the released numbers will increase, so that those with long sentences will also be released. Those people live in the hope that someone will come and tell them: it’s your turn. I hope they will.”


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