Political prisoner Katsyaryna Andreyeva has met with her husband Ihar Ilyash in a Homiel colony. Before that, they met in April, even before her transfer to the colony.
It was their first meeting after Katsyaryna’s transfer to the penal colony in Homiel; the meeting lasted almost four hours. They had previously had two visits to the detention center – in February and April 2021 (one hour and two hours long, respectively).
“Katsya was wearing a standard dress with a yellow tag sewn on her chest. On the tag is her picture, the article under which she was convicted, the dates of her detention. Katsya was assigned to general labor at a sewing factory where they sew knitwear for the security services, hats, shoulder straps, sweaters, and small articles of clothing. Now she is working as an assistant seamstress; the training for the new qualification is not over yet,” says the husband of the political prisoner.
According to Ihar Ilyash, Katysaryna is very tired; she has almost no free time, which is why she apologizes for not answering all the letters. “She had no penalties. She does not complain about the attitude of the colony administration. As for the living conditions, they are significantly better than in Zhodzina and Valadarka,” adds the journalist’s husband.
“Katsya has noticeably lost weight, but it is not sickly thinness. Given the situation, she looks good. Most importantly, she is firm and confident. She said that under no circumstances would she write a pardon petition (if offered to do so). It’s her principled position,” said Ihar Ilyash.
Katsyaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova were detained on November 15, 2020, for video recording the violent dispersal during the action in memory of Raman Bandarenka and the destruction of the public memorial by security forces. Katsyaryna and Darya were later charged under Part 1 of Article 342 (“Organization and preparation of actions grossly violating public order”). On February 18, 2021, Judge Natallya Buhuk of the Frunzenski District Court of Minsk sentenced the girls to two years’ imprisonment in a minimum-security penal colony.
Our colleagues didn’t admit their guilt and considered the persecution as revenge for their professional activities.
