Political Prisoner Katsiaryna Andreeva Saw Her Husband for the First Time after Being Transferred to the Colony

The meeting lasted almost four hours.

In the Homel colony, a meeting between political prisoner and journalist Katsiaryna Andreeva and her husband Ihar Illiash took place. The last time they saw each other was in April before Katsiaryna's transfer to the colony, Belsat reports.

This was their first meeting after Katsiaryna's transfer to a penal colony in Homel, the meeting lasted almost four hours. Previously, they had two meetings in the pre-trial detention center - in February and April 2021 (an hour and two hours long, respectively).

“Katsia was in a standard government dress with a yellow tag sewn onto her chest. On the tag, there is her picture, the article under which she was convicted, the dates of her detention. Katsia was assigned to general work in the sewing industry, they sew knitwear for security officials: hats, shoulder straps, sweaters, small details of clothing. Now she works as an assistant to a seamstress, the period of training in a new specialty is not over yet,” says the husband of the political prisoner.

According to Ihar Illiash, Katsiaryna is very tired, there is practically no free time - that is why she apologizes for not being able to answer all letters. “She had no penalties. She does not complain about the attitude of the colony administration towards herself. As for the living conditions, they are much better than in the Zhodzina SIZO and Valadarka,” adds the journalist's husband.

“Katsia has noticeably lost weight, but this is not painful thinness. Taking into account the situation, she looks good. Most importantly, she is firm and confident. She said that under no circumstances would she write a pardon petition (if offered to do so). It's her principled position,” says Ihar Illiash.

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Katsiaryna Andreeva and Darja Chultsova were detained on November 15, 2020, for streaming from a brutal dispersal during a rally in memory of Raman Bandarenka and the destruction of a national memorial by security forces. Katsiaryna and Darja were charged under Part 1 of Art. 342 ("Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order") of the Criminal Code. On February 18, 2021, the judge of the Frunzenski District Court of Minsk, Natallia Buhuk, sentenced Katsiaryna and Darja to 2 years in prison in a general regime colony.

Our colleagues did not admit their guilt and consider the prosecution to be the revenge of the special services for their professional activities.

The verdict of Katsiaryna and Darja had a great resonance both in Belarus and at the international level. The politically motivated persecution of our colleagues was condemned by journalists, politicians, public figures, diplomats, and leaders of democratic countries.

In conclusion, Darja and Katsiaryna were put on preventive records as persons "prone to extremism and other destructive actions." This status provides for enhanced control by the administration. In the colony, they now have to wear yellow tags - this color denotes persons allegedly "prone to extremism."