«I was silent for a long time. My soul seemed to freeze.» Singer Inna Afanasyeva released her first music video after a forced hiatus
People's Artist of Belarus Inna Afanasyeva, who can no longer perform in her homeland due to being on "blacklists," has released a music video. This happened on the 40th day after her mother's death: "May this song bring solace to everyone who has lost loved ones and relatives."

Inna Afanasyeva. Screenshot from the music video on her YouTube channel
The song is called "This Pain".
Inna Afanasyeva wrote on her Instagram page:
«I was silent for a long time. My soul seemed to freeze. Mom always asked me: why don't I sing? I answered her — I don't want to... It was easier for me to tell her that. She worried a lot, and I knew that.
Later, when songs appeared that I wanted to sing, I thought that Mom would be very happy that I had this desire to return to music. I was preparing a surprise for her and for all of you who were waiting for it. But 40 days ago, what happened, happened... May this song bring solace to everyone who has lost loved ones and relatives. And what next? Next, there will be many songs that I will fill with light and love. Thank you for waiting so long.»
In the YouTube comments, people write that they cried listening to the song and thank Inna for returning.

Inna Afanasyeva. Screenshot from the music video on her YouTube channel
Earlier, Inna Afanasyeva's son Ivan Straltsov, who now works as an actor in Riga and cannot return to Belarus for obvious reasons, said that the Belarusian authorities punished his mother because of his political stance:
— A person who has been on stage all their life was suddenly forbidden to perform! But I know that her listeners are still waiting for her. I myself saw comments on Instagram where people write that they are waiting for her concert, waiting for her to be shown on TV again... Of course, this happened partly because of me. But my opinion and my actions are only mine. I am responsible for my words. Everything I do has nothing to do with my mother, my child, or my ex-wife.
Comments