Former Belarusian political prisoner Maksim Znak took down a poster in Vilnius
After nearly five years of imprisonment, Belarusian political prisoner and lawyer Maksim Znak took down a poster with his image on Monday in Vilnius, which had been hanging in front of the Belarusian embassy, and urged Western societies not to stop fighting for other compatriots imprisoned by the Minsk regime.
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Two years ago, the United States (US) embassy and representatives of the Lithuanian Bar initiated the raising of a poster that read “Stop torturing Maksim Znak”.
“I am very grateful to everyone who contributes to the liberation of people, I know what a heavy burden it is. (…) At this moment I am here and can put an exclamation mark – ‘Stop torturing’,” said M. Znak before taking down the poster.
The former political prisoner emphasized that Belarusians both in exile and in their homeland still experience constant pressure from the regime: “We are completely powerless, we cannot return, use property, and the system always reminds us that it ‘loves’ us and will not forget us. According to international documents, deliberately inflicted mental suffering by the state is torture.”
According to him, although prisoners are usually released only after the set term expires, the negotiations conducted by the US with Belarus are effective.
“Here I confirm that negotiations yield results. The fact that I am now talking to you became possible only because of US agreements,” M. Znak told BNS.
However, the overall situation of political prisoners in Belarus remains critical.
“Some are released, others are imprisoned,” said the former political prisoner.
“There are more than 800 people listed as political prisoners. In addition, there are people detained before trial, so the situation has essentially not improved. That is hundreds more people, more than a thousand,” he said.
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According to M. Znak, those prisoners who remain in isolation constantly live with the hope of their turn coming: “I know that those who remain there each think that they will be the next to leave, and each one awaits it.”
When asked how society can contribute to the release of political prisoners, M. Znak urges helping the relatives and close ones of those imprisoned, as they cannot do it themselves.
“We do not have the opportunity to send or receive letters, parcels. Moreover, our supporters themselves have already ended up in prison in Belarus. So what can society do? It is important that Western countries do not stop their activities,” added the former political prisoner.
Instead of the poster that hung at the Belarusian embassy in Vilnius, a photo by Belarusian photographer Denis Veyau titled “Connection,” depicting a peaceful protest, was hung.
Lawyer and writer M. Znak, who worked in the campaign of Belarusian presidential candidate Viktor Babaryka, was arrested in September 2020 and sentenced to ten years in prison, accused of participating in a conspiracy to seize power, inciting actions aimed at harming security, and creating an extremist group. Since February 2023, all contact between him and the outside world was completely cut off. M. Znak was released after negotiations with the US on December 13 last year along with 122 other political prisoners.
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Author Olivija Švelnikaitė
