«All Kaliadzichy saw us off». Kiryl Kaziej told about his expulsion from the country in the last group of political prisoners

Kiryl Kaziej

«I didn't think I'd be among those released»

Kiryl was detained in 2020 — later a case was fabricated against him, which he stated in court. He was released only after five and a half years. The man was among the last group of political prisoners who were pardoned and expelled from Belarus on March 19, 2026.

«We suspected there would be a release, because we had information that an American delegation was arriving soon. Relatives spoke about it, and it was broadcast on Belarusian television. We also knew about the release of previous groups. 50-70 percent of what's on the internet eventually reached us somehow.

We knew that US Special Envoy John Cole was arriving in Vilnius on March 18, and on March 19, most likely, he would be in Minsk. We assumed that releases would happen around the 20th. We had information that there would be about 200 political prisoners. Many were upset because they hoped almost everyone would be released. People had been waiting for this very intensely since December.

I myself didn't think I would be among those released. In mid-February, representatives from the KGB came to our colony and spoke with about 25 political prisoners about something. Someone said they were offered to go to Lithuania and cooperate with special services for a chance to return to Belarus. With someone, there was a formal conversation about their attitude towards the current authorities and plans after release. Most of them, with whom I later communicated, were hinted that they would be released soon».

The morning of March 18 for the political prisoner in Mahiliou colony No. 15 began according to the usual routine: wake-up, check, breakfast, industrial zone.

«Around 10 o'clock I was called back to the squad. On the way, an officer met me and told me to quickly pack my belongings and food for a couple of days. I'm telling this now, three weeks later, and I'm reliving those exciting emotions.

Later, they told me to leave all prison clothes and travel in a tracksuit. Apparently, after the previous group was taken out, there was a lot of talk about what people wear in Belarusian prisons, and an order from above to release them in something more or less decent.

I was taken to a cell where transfers are gathered. At first, I was allowed to take family photos. But then an officer with different views came and took even them. I think they didn't have any clear instructions on this matter, and everyone acted based on personal opinions. As for those who came for us — they didn't care at all what was in our bags.

Many times I imagined the moment of release, thinking I would cling to these photos and not give them up. In the end, I waved it off, probably out of joy. They didn't allow me to take any papers with me at all. I was allowed to take a minimal amount of things: food, underwear, socks».

«You are being taken for investigative actions»

Kiryl says they didn't ask where they were being taken because they understood they were being released.

«Based on rumors of how previous political prisoners were released, we knew what was happening. The only thing we didn't know was where they would take us — directly to the border or to the Minsk pre-trial detention center, and then to the border. Naturally, no documents about where and on what basis we were going were shown to us.

We were taken to Minsk in a regular Gazelle van. They blindfolded us and put handcuffs on us. But they treated us much more politely than during usual transfers.

The officers said: «You are being taken for investigative actions». But it was quite funny to hear. It was clear that they were not being taken for investigative actions and that they were trying to avoid «negative reviews» about them on the internet later.

Everyone who transferred us was in masks, caps, and glasses. They hid their faces, probably so they wouldn't be recognized later. To me, this is a sign of fear and uncertainty about the future. This means they still understand that sooner or later all this will end. They want fewer questions directed at them then».

The former political prisoner emphasizes that he never wrote a petition for pardon during all his years of imprisonment:

«In all five years, no one ever came to me with offers to write a petition. Therefore, the release was a surprise to me. Although I knew that there were such people in previous groups as well.

I did not write for a pardon, because it would have been morally difficult for me. In such a case, I would have had to admit guilt, but I did not do what was written in the verdict. No one asked me if I wanted to leave. I can't even guess why I was taken out of the country.

In the colony, based on observations of previous releases, we came to the conclusion that the lists are changed at the last moment. That is, the American side had an initial list that was supposed to include certain people, but as a result of negotiations, it was changed.

How I ended up on the pardon list, I don't know. But I am not convinced that I am pardoned. Essentially, we were just handed over to those who took us out of the country».

«They ran around and made sure everyone looked good»

After the colony, the political prisoner was brought to the pre-trial detention center in Kaliadzichy.

«I had the feeling that the local staff didn't know who we were or why we were being brought in. I had a conversation with an officer:

— Where did you come from?

— From the colony.

— Why did you come?

— To Lithuania, probably.

[Looks at me like I'm an idiot]

— Probably a pardon, I don't know for sure.

— What do you mean? Why did you come?

— Okay, officially we were told they'd bring us here for investigative actions.

Our conversation ended there. But they took our shoelaces, because they were processing us like a regular transfer, according to all the rules of the pre-trial detention center. Another political prisoner and I were put in a temporary cell, a so-called «holding cell». They brought us a mattress and bedding so we could spend the night.

The next morning, they fed us — gave us chopped oats with an egg. They conducted a minimal search and gave us our belongings.

They brought an envelope and said: «Here are valuables», and put it in our bags, without letting us see what was inside. I was sure they put my passport in the envelope, but it turned out to be money from my prison account. As far as I know, the guys from previous groups weren't given their money back, and some had large sums left behind».

The man's passport was never returned, but he only discovered this in Lithuania.

«The officers ran around making sure everyone looked good. They inspected us about four times. Valiantsin Stefanovich was wearing prison boots, so they gave him sneakers. Apparently, they didn't want him to leave looking like that.

They came to inspect our appearance several times. They tried very hard to make us look more presentable; the colonel personally handed out shoelaces for sneakers.

All of Kaliadzichy saw us off — all the high-ranking officials. They didn't let us carry our own bags; everything was loaded for us. This time, we traveled comfortably in a Mercedes Sprinter.

Here, they didn't put handcuffs on us or blindfold us anymore. We drove and talked normally among ourselves and with those accompanying us. We discussed our prison life among ourselves, what had been normal for us in recent years, while in the eyes of our escorts, there was incomprehension, as if to say: «What are you saying, how can you talk about that».

«Each of us was personally met by John Cole»

The man had not been free for over five years, so all the way he looked out the window and observed how the world had changed during that time.

«As we drove, I looked at the cars. I saw the new Belarusian reality in terms of vehicles. When we drove on the ring road, I saw buildings that were only starting to be built «during my time». Otherwise, not much had changed.

We were brought to the border and waited, as it turned out, for an American motorcade. When jeeps with red license plates overtook us, we understood what we had been waiting for.

We all drove together to the border, crossed the Belarusian barrier, and were transferred to the cars of the American delegation. Each of us was personally met by John Cole. He congratulated us on being free now».

The political prisoner had more than a year left to serve, but he notes that under the current government in Belarus, he would not have been able to stay and live there.

«In emigration, I found myself without documents. Supposedly free, but can one be truly free if some of your relatives remained in Belarus? And you know: there's a high probability they'll have problems if you're seen here with a white-red-white flag or at a meeting with Tsikhanouskaya? Also, I cannot come to Belarus to visit relatives. Maybe I can, but I don't want to try. Therefore, this is conditional freedom, and true freedom will come only when the regime in Belarus changes».

Kiryl Kaziej is a father of two children. Before his arrest, he worked for a company selling computer equipment and fully dedicated himself to family matters. However, in 2021, the man was sentenced to 7 years in a high-security penal colony.

A fundraiser has been announced for Kiryl Kaziej after his deportation on the BySol platform. You can support him via the link.

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