Iryna Kazulina's Day Instead Of "Fatherland Defender's Day'

On this day, it is worth to support those whose dear people are behind the bars.

Iryna Kazulina passed away on February 23 10 years ago. She was only 48.

An intelligent woman, who could have become the first lady whom Belarusians would be proud of.

A brave lady who publicly declared she had cancer one of the first in Belarus, and gave the example of struggle to others.

A dignified woman who came to the Radio Liberty studio with a smile, for an online conference right after the trial against Aliaksandr Kazulin.

A devoted woman, who hadn't had her husband-political prisoner beside her in her last minutes, days and months.

A smart woman, who regarded it below her dignity to reply to the insulting insinuations of the Belarusian ruler about her family.

A beloved woman, who lives in the hearts of her dear people.

She passed away ten years ago, but the pain which remained is not only the pain of Aliaksandr Kazulin, who was released from prison for three days to bid farewell to his wife.

This is the pain of political prisoner Zmiter Dashkevich, who was given only 30 minutes to bid farewell to his mother Volha Dashkevich in the mortuary. She was only 54.

This is the pain of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski, who found out his father was dead only on the day of the funeral, where he was convoyed for the final goodbye.

The pain of political prisoner Aliaksandr Malchanau, who was denied bidding farewell to his mother Halina Malchanava by the administration of the Zhodzina penal colony. She was only 64.

The pain and anxiety which, I am convinced, filled the heart of political prisoner, ex-presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich behind the bars, as he worried about his father Viktar Statkevich, the same as Zmitsder Dashkevich worried about his father, Viachaslau Dashkevich.

I remember the painful cry of the mother of political prisoner Fiodar Mirzayanau when they didn't let her in the court hall to hear the verdict to her son.

I remember like Ala Sannikava, barely holding her tears, was reading the letter of her imprisoned son Andrei Sannikov from prison, at the presentation of the Radio Liberty's book "One Day of a Political Prisoner. 2009-2011".

Such scenes remain uncountable, as it is impossible to measure the pain of all political prisoners and their families.

However, due to some reason I keep on recalling this day 10 years ago, when I found out that Iryna kazulina was dead. It was on February 23, when part of the Belarusian society celebrated the so-called Day of Fatherland's Defender and Armed Forces of Belarus.

Why not try to overcome the obsolete Soviet tradition and declare February 23 the Day of Political Prisoners' Relatives, in honour of Iryna Kazulina?

And support those whose dear people are behind the bars on this day.

Hanna Sous, Radio Liberty