Political prisoner Vaclaŭ Areška celebrated his 71st birthday behind bars. Others visually described a Christmas postcard to him
On January 18, political prisoner Vaclaŭ Areška celebrates his birthday. Today he turned 71. This is the fourth time the political prisoner has celebrated his birthday behind bars. Human rights defenders have included Areška in the list of political prisoners with a very vulnerable health condition, writes «Svaboda».
Vaclaŭ Areška. Archive photo
Areška has very poor eyesight, and other illnesses have also worsened in the colony. According to a source familiar with the political prisoner's affairs, over the past year, his eyesight has deteriorated so much that he can no longer fully read or write; glasses no longer help. The source says that Vaclaŭ Areška's poor health affects his psychological state.
«He is sad because he sees nothing. His health is not improving, his eyesight is even worse; others visually described a Christmas postcard to him because he cannot see what is depicted on it. When he writes letters himself, literally only 20 percent can be deciphered, it's that illegible,» — the source reported about Vaclaŭ Areška.
According to the source, Vaclaŭ Areška does not complain about his treatment in the colony.
Relatives and friends of the political prisoner hope that he will be included in the next list for release and will celebrate his next birthday at liberty.
Activist of the independent REP trade union, political scientist, cultural historian, and public figure Vaclaŭ Areška has been behind bars since April 2022. The court found Vaclaŭ Areška guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code, including Article 361-1 — «creation of an extremist formation or participation in it».
The activist was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment. Vaclaŭ Areška is serving his sentence in colony No. 22 in Ivatsevichy. Colleagues in the leadership of independent trade unions, Henadz Fiadynich, Aliaksandr Yarashuk, and Vasil Bierasnieŭ, who were detained together with Areška as part of the same «trade union case,» were released last year.
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