Palina Stsepanenka: There Are People Who Have Been Fighting For Their Convictions For 22 Years

An exhibition about Belarusians who challenge Lukashenka’s regime has been held in Hrodna.

Letters of Political Prisoners from 1996 to the Present Day – an exhibition with such a name has opened in Hrodna. It was prepared by the Center for the Study of the Civil Society of Belarus. It consists of 11 stands representing correspondence, publications, photographs and excerpts from the testimony of political prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime, Radio Racyja reports.

“The letters were collected for six months and more than one and a half thousand of them were gathered. The fact is that political prisoners appeared in 1996. There are people who have been staying behind bars for their convictions for 22 years,” – exhibition creator Palina Stsepanenka said.

The event was attended by former political prisoners Pavel Mazheika, Andrzej Pachobut, Ales Bialiatski and Ales Kirkevich. They shared their own memories. A few dozen of the city residents came to the celebration.

“We are sharing our memories. What there was, how it was... And how it will be!” – former political prisoner, human rights activist Ales Bialiatski wrote on his Facebook.

The exposition includes 11 stands displaying letters from political prisoners from prison, letters in support of political prisoners, as well as materials from the bulletin of the Human Rights Center Viasna “The Right to Freedom” and archival photos.