Irina Vasilievna Krolikova
- Associations
- Retirees
Irina is retired and enjoys handicrafts: she crochets and knits, and also decorates her yard with her own hands.
On January 13, 2025, Irina was charged with administrative offences under Article 19.11 in the Novobelitsky District Court of Gomel. After serving 24 hours, Irina was released and went to visit her sister in Russia. However, during this time, a criminal case had been opened against her and she was placed on the wanted list, unknown to her. Upon returning to Belarus, Irina was detained on the train and placed in a temporary detention facility in St. Petersburg, after which she was transferred to a pretrial detention facility in Minsk.
Irina had an 80-year-old mother in her care.
On December 13, 2025, she was released following a visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole, and taken to Ukraine.
How to write a letter
✏️ A postcard with words of encouragement (a poem by your favorite author, song lyrics, or a beautiful quote). Trust us, even such simple gestures are very meaningful to a person in jail.
✏️ Your life events. To a person who is in isolation for a long time, any story about your routine endeavors will be a window into normal life. Your day-to-day worries and mundane matters are much more interesting than the daily grind of life behind bars.
✏️ It is important to share news. Mention the most notable and interesting occurrences depending on your pen-pal's interests.
✍️️ Remember that every letter is censored. This means that your letters are read by strangers whose main goal is to limit inmates' access to information or to use it against the prisoners or even you.
So try to avoid:
👉️️ harsh statements regarding ongoing political matters
👉 statements against the authorities and public servants
👉 foul language
👉 discussion of the circumstances of the criminal case
Involved in repression
