Maryja Kalesnikava: The Shackles Will Break
- 30.09.2021, 10:48
Good will win.
Representative of Viktar Babaryka's headquarters, political prisoner Maryja Kalesnikava answered questions from the BBC. She is confident in the victory of the Belarusian revolution. Here are some quotes from her interview.
"If you ask me if I am delighted with the fact that I was given 11 years, then no, it is difficult to find a person who would like such a prospect. But when I remember what the authorities and their pocket courts actually gave me and Maksim such sentences for, it becomes easy to breathe and more fun to live," the political prisoner says.
"I can't say that when I tore my passport, I did not understand the scale of the consequences for myself. On September 7, 2020, I knew that, if they didn’t kill me, I would definitely go to jail. …> All year they tried to do everything to make me regret it. A year in hot and cold cells, without air, without light, without people... A year without anything, but I have no regrets, and now I would have done the same. Here and now I am going through a difficult path together with my people," Maryja Kalesnikava says.
"Together with Belarusians, we walked the streets in the summer, hugged, worried, hoped. We started this journey together, and now we are together. So I have no regrets. I pity that Belarusians are scared, that we are all unfree, and I pity those who commit monstrous acts against people, against their nature, against life itself," she said.
"Prison is a disgusting place, but here I especially feel free and happy. I know how many people love me and think of me - this gives me incredible strength to go on. And I know for sure that good will win," Maryja Kalesnikava is sure.
"No, you have not become worse because you no longer go out on the avenues with our flag. No, you have not become weaker because you fear for your life and freedom. You have nothing to blame yourself and each other for, nothing to blame. Yes, friends, you are incredible. And I think that Belarus still has an elusive chance to resolve the crisis within the country on its own," says the political prisoner.
When asked why she danced on the day the verdict was announced, Maryja Kalesnikava replied:
- Because dancing is better than suffering! This is my greetings to all relatives, friends, and the whole world. They can lock me up in a prison, hide me from people, give me 11 years... But all this, like their fear, hatred, and shackles will be broken by our songs, laughter, dancing, and love.