“Chyrvonym pa belamu – Belarus Long live” – Charter’97 :: News from Belarus – Belarusian news – News from Belarus – Republic of Belarus
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Poems that political prisoners send in letters.
As of November 7, 834 people are in Belarusian prisons for political reasons. In such conditions, they remain the only connection with reality. In them, prisoners talk about their everyday life, send pictures and thank them for their support.
And some political prisoners began (or continued) to write poetry. Mirror.io looked what poems they send in their letters.
Nikolay Shemetov
Nikolai was detained on the morning of December 21, 2020 on the threshold of the school, where he took his daughter. They searched his apartment, his car, the office where he worked, and seized equipment. On December 31, Nikolai was charged under Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code.
In July, by a court decision, Nicolas was sentenced to two years in a general regime colony. A wife and children are waiting for a man at home: the spouses have a large family.
Nikolai sent this poem to his wife (it is about autumn, but not at all about nature):
The paradox of the autumn luminary.
The sky is clear, but the light is cool.
You feel that autumn has come
After many serene years.
The thaw passed and the birds died down
Heralds of victory over winter
Flew away to return
With triumphant trills in the spring.
There are fewer songs and festivities,
The child’s ringing in the courtyards is not audible.
Autumn is like a time of memories
Immerses the whole nature to sleep.
Autumn is like Sunday evening.
The eternal cycle replaces the pores of the years.
Old age is the eternal companion of renewal.
Darkness is always haunted by the dawn.
But you can’t get warm with the autumn sun
Laughter and songs are no longer heard …
Autumn is not a state of the heart!
Autumn is the state of the country!
20.10.2021.
Anastasia Mirontseva
Before her arrest, Anastasia was one of the best final-year students of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. The girl was detained on October 16 in a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). The reason was the video from the protests on August 10 – together with their sister Victoria, they got into the frame.
While in the pre-trial detention center, Anastasia could not get to the state examinations, and since the official letter to the BGAI did not come from the authorities, the girl was expelled.
The sister’s trial began in March 2021, and during the hearing it turned out that they were also charged with Art. 364 of the Criminal Code (Violence against a police officer). On April 1, the verdict was announced: Anastasia Mirontseva received 2 years in prison.
Such a small poem, a complete desire to break free, the girl sent in one of the letters.
***
Burbalkayuts puddles fall tsikhim even;
Lustera residents have a sherae nyabyosaў palon.
***
Croplands of baryarous listsyaў
Suma jerk pad dajjom
Shepchuts a little on a wuha: “Yashche a lid …
Hutka damoў “.
Vladimir Gorokh
Vladimir Gorokh is a resident of Novogrudok. He was detained on August 18, 2020 in the so-called “Korelichi case” about allegedly planned riots in Korelichi and Novogrudok after the elections.
The man was charged under Part 2 of Art. 1 tbsp. 293 of the Criminal Code (Preparation for riots). Allegedly, in the summer, Vladimir deliberately prepared for the riots in Novogrudok, to attract many people to them. According to the official version, Peas said during the meetings that on August 10, 2007, set fire to buildings, resist the authorities and block the roads with sawed trees. The man was also accused of insulting Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
On December 29, 2020, Vladimir was sentenced to 7 years in prison in a maximum security colony. In one of his letters, he sent this poem of his own composition.
“Distant – close”
One of the days, not how much not gratifying
An unexpected letter arrived.
There were many different questions,
I just couldn’t understand where it came from.
The surname and address are unfamiliar,
And actually I didn’t expect from anyone.
Desire to solve this drawn
Hurry, he opened the envelope and took out the news.
His eyes hastily ran through the lines:
They send greetings, support and sympathy there.
Where are the good words and wishes from?
Has it appeared in the days of my fate?
They say to me: “We are dear to the taboo of Belarusians.
We know that byada has gone to the taba
Dapamagchy tabe hell sertsa, shchyra musim
You are not an adzin at a getai baratsbe. “
From the words read the heart fluttered,
Though I knew that I was not the only warrior in the field.
From these words my soul felt warmer
And the embarrassed spirit immediately became calm.
A lot of letters have come since that time,
From different, strangers and strangers.
And every soul warmed me,
And there were more bright days among the gray days.
They became close to me, who used to be distant,
They became relatives who were strangers.
Something happened that I could not think of –
Those who gave a helping hand in a difficult time became my family.
I see in this, high morality:
In the unity of purpose – the strength is of the people.
And no matter how far the cherished goal is,
We will come to her together, having overcome all adversity.
Andrey Alexandrov
Andrey Aleksandrov is a Belarusian journalist and media manager. He was detained on January 12, 2021, together with his girlfriend Irina Zlobina. According to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Gennady Kazakevich, the reason was the observation of the financing of protest activities – allegedly Aleksandrov and Zlobina since August 2020 have been financing those who took part in the protests in Minsk, including through the payment of expenses and reimbursement of funds for maintenance in the Central Inspection Center and the IVS.
On June 30, Aleksandrov was charged with a new charge – under Part 1 of Art. 356 of the Criminal Code (Treason to the State). And on August 27, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code against Andrey Aleksandrov, Dmitry Novozhilov, Irina Levshina, “as well as other persons”.
The well-known journalist continues to write from behind bars. Here is one of the works he sent.
It’s summer here. I baked. Zhytsyo ў adpachynku.
Naviny pryhodzyats hutchey for sheets.
Anywhere on the sheets, on the Navins – on the Navinki.
Zryvayuzza plans. Exploding balts.
Kino pravaynu. Battalion on the marches.
Lyatsіts airplane. Kamisar klich ў fight.
Here it baked and so – our enemies are terrible.
Palonnyh not brother! We are sculpting with a subwoofer.
Sit down, weasel. Syadzi. Budz yak at home.
Such a dullness! Syadzi, pachakai.
Adpusts_ts_vine i puffy stoma –
We will go to heaven for the first time.
Dmitry Galko
Dmitry Galko is a 44-year-old individual entrepreneur and bodybuilder, bronze medalist of the 2019 Belarusian Championship.
He was detained on October 21, 2020. During the arrest, he was severely beaten, after being delivered to the emergency hospital in a combination of concomitant injuries: Dmitry had a head injury of moderate severity and about 50 blows to one place in the area of his right thigh.
The bodybuilder was charged under Article 364 of the Criminal Code for allegedly hitting the video camera of a police officer who, while on duty, was in civilian clothing and was filming a courtyard concert. And the victim in the “restriction of freedom attempts two blows and threats.”
In January 2021, Dmitry was sentenced to three years in prison in a general regime colony. In addition, he is obliged to pay a thousand rubles in compensation for moral damage to the victim, compensate for the damage for the police department’s camera and compensate for the losses for the examination.
It seems that behind the appearance of bodybuilder Dmitry Galko is a very sensitive soul. Read how touchingly he writes about the house and his desire to be there as soon as possible.
Dull day, tobacco smog
A door, a worn stone threshold.
Shabby table and dim light
And here I don’t seem to be.
I closed my eyes, saw the house
And I stand as if in it.
And next to you, you leave as if from the darkness
You come to me, you go into the light
Into the light that is not here.
Opened my eyes, again the fog
Some devilish deception.
Dim light again, faded color
And here I don’t seem to be.
Closed my eyes and home again
And again, as if in it.
Rostislav Stefanovich
Rostislav Stefanovich is a Belarusian designer and architect, a member of the extended composition of the Coordination Council. In addition, he was a member of the American football team “Minsk Bison”, took part in it and won prizes in many championships. Rostislav is the author of many projects of apartments, coffee houses and other buildings in Belarus: the residential complex “Olympic Park”, the buildings of the State Production Association “Belenergo”, the cafe “Moscow”.
The man was detained on the evening of September 29, 2020, while he was driving on business. During the arrest, Rostislav was beaten – his bodily injuries were injured in the IVS on Akrestsin Street and in the SIZO on Volodarskiy.
The charge was brought under articles: part 2 of art. 293 of the Criminal Code (Participation in Mass Riots) and Art. 218 of the Criminal Code (Intentional destruction or damage to property, committed in a generally dangerous manner or causing major damage). This summer, the man was sentenced to eight years in prison under a high security regime.
Rostislav’s wife and two children are waiting at home – the seven-year-old daughter herself writes to the Pope in prison. Read the poem sent by Rostislav.
Your soul runs without respite.
You are looking for what is missing.
As if expecting a bright flash
You pierce the sky with your gaze.
To fill the void of your sorrow.
Connect reality gap.
While all thoughts were silent inside,
You realize the energy of the impulse.
You joyfully greet a new day
Give freedom to all your vices.
And a shadow slides across my face
And the stars got closer by accident.
The older you are, the closer the distance.
Magic dreams will not be lost.
When you wake up all your desires
Order and tranquility will come.
After all, the stars only speak with the same,
Who had the strength to go crazy.
When the remnants of the rules burn out
The prison will be destroyed for your soul.
Ksenia Syromolot
Ksenia Syromolot studied at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Belarusian State University, was the press secretary of “Zadzinochannya Belarusian students”, a volunteer of the unregistered HRC “Vesna”.
Ksenia was detained on November 12, 2020, along with nine other people in the so-called “student case”, charged under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). The activist’s house was searched, and she was placed in custody in the KGB pre-trial detention center. After some time, the girl was transferred to the pre-trial detention center on Volodarsky. On July 16, Xenia was sentenced to 2.5 years in a general regime colony.
The girl wrote poetry for a long time, after being behind bars, she continued to send poems in letters. This is what she sent to her friends.
On Shary Scenes:
For farbay, for farbay,
At the washed-out mastatstve
Chyrvonym na belamu –
Belarus Long live.
In mixtures and tears
At zmorannye vacha
(I syo roўna jumpers),
At vocals and songs,
At mov and tops,
In bright people,
What ў precious months, –
Belarus Long live.
At the little archives of the paperwork,
At the intractable endothelials.
Belarus is overwhelmed by the people of Tynko,
Painted ў of the darkest months –
Belarus Long live our sires!