Nikolai, a former village council member, was detained on January 14, 2021. His home had been searched earlier, on January 6. Investigators were looking for "extremism and symbols," but found nothing. The search warrant stated that Nikolai had made "unflattering" remarks about the All-Belarusian People's Assembly.
The basis for his arrest was his letter to the regional newspaper "Mayak" regarding a discussion of constitutional amendments. His actions were initially classified as inciting social discord, and the regional newspaper published a critical article. The charges were later reclassified.
In June 2022, Nikolai was found guilty of "discrediting the Republic of Belarus" and sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony.
He was released on June 28, 2022, having fully served his sentence.
✏️ 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
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