Franak Viačorka Profile picture
Belarusian politician. Chief Political Advisor to Sviatlana @Tsihanouskaya. Alum of @americanU. Contact: franak@tsikhanouskaya.org

May 21, 2021, 5 tweets

Devastating news - Political prisoner Vitold Ashurak died today in the Shklou colony. Political prisoners are marked with yellow tags there. There was no letter from him in the last 2 weeks, but in his last letter he said: "I will be released in 2021". My deepest condolences.

Personally to me, Vitold Ashurak is a real hero, the regime is guilty of his untimely death. He would have been with his family. Even in prison, he remained free. He wrote in a letter: "If my peaceful protest is considered a crime by conspirators, it means I did everything right"

This is the peaceful protest in Lida on August 9, on the elections night when Tsikhanouskaya has reportedly won. He was sentenced to five years in jail for participating in this ABSOLUTELY PEACEFUL protest against rigged elections. He died for his dream to live in free Belarus.

This is Vitold's last lifetime video. As the verdict was announced people in the courtroom started shouting: "Shame!". Vitold was imprisoned, because he believed in the new Belarus, and he died believing. People continue dying in the inhumane conditions of Belarusian prisons.

"Don't despair - we should do our job and we'll win!" Vitold Ashurak memorial actions were held both in Belarus & abroad. As we united in our grief, we should proceed with our peaceful path to democracy with renewed vigour - this is what Vitold would do himself #StandWithBelarus

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