Released Belarusian political prisoners told what feelings they experience after their release

Maria Kalesnikava:

"First and foremost, a feeling of incredible happiness: to see the eyes of people dear to you, to hug them. To understand that we are free people. It's great happiness to witness the first free sunset of astounding beauty.

Павялічыць

Maria Kalesnikava

At the same time, of course, I think about those people who are not yet free. And I eagerly await the moment when we can all hug and see each other. I am sincerely grateful to everyone involved in this chain of people's freedom, from the very top to those who are accompanying us and helping us feel this sense of freedom now.

And I wholeheartedly welcome all further steps and support the stages of the process that has begun — and I hope it will end very positively for everyone."

Aliaksandr Fiaduta:

"I am grateful to everyone who took part in our release. I am grateful to my Ukrainian friends; I have many of them — in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, there were some in Donetsk, there are some in Vinnytsia, Odesa, Lviv. I know they worried about me, wrote to my wife, and expressed their moral support.

I want to wish Ukraine peace, the peace it deserves and desires.

Павялічыць

Aliaksandr Fiaduta

I want to remember those who did not live to see this day. Someone died in a penal colony, someone committed suicide because they lost hope for a quick release. But most await freedom and believe in freedom.

My four lines, which I wrote in the penal colony:

"Hot coffee, taste of chocolate —
What else does a poor prisoner need?
Flight in the sky, sunrise,
Beloved lips and the air of freedom."

Today, Ukraine gave me the air of freedom. Thank you."

Siarhei Ivantsou:

"I am a little-known person, and on behalf of all little-known and completely unknown political prisoners, I want to say a few words.

Firstly, to express gratitude for our release today, on this day of Andrew the First-Called, December 13, 2025, we breathed the air of freedom. Thank you to everyone who participated in this.

Павялічыць

Siarhei Ivantsou

I would also like to say that indeed many people remained in the zone, good acquaintances of mine, and some of them became my friends. And every morning during inspection in the penal colony, when I prayed for them, there were more and more of them; since 2020, so many have accumulated that I was afraid to forget a name. And I want to say that today I see many people from that list now on the bus. I am very happy to see them, and starting tomorrow, the list of names I will need to remember in my prayers will be greatly reduced. This is wonderful, and may it be reduced to zero. Let people be free.

Long live Belarus!"

Maryna Zolatava:

"I am glad that I was released not after 12 years, but after four and a half years. And I am grateful to everyone who participated in our early release. Because every day in captivity is very difficult.

Павялічыць

Maryna Zolatava

On the one hand, I am happy that in the near future, I hope, I will be able to hug my family and loved ones — but on the other hand, it is very bitter that many women are still in the Homel penal colony. Among them are many elderly women with health problems."

Uladzimir Harokh:

"First of all, I want to thank President Trump, the president of the great, wonderful country of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and everyone who participated in our release. I want to thank the Ukrainian people for your courage. You were not afraid and challenged the Russian occupiers — and I am grateful to you.

Павялічыць

Uladzimir Harokh

I am also glad that my daughter is also contributing her small share — she serves in a medical company and helps Ukrainian soldiers.

And briefly, I would like to express my emotions with the words of a short poem, which I first wrote in the pre-trial detention center:

"With a warm heart, strong hands,
I hold the banner of a free people,
Though flesh in chains — spirit unbroken,
I know for sure — the enemy will be captured..."

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