The boys write letters home,
Joy brightly circles around them!
I write too,
Though I know:
My letters, mother, don’t arrive,
My letters, mother, don’t find the roads.
— Yanka Sipakov
Today, there are 1,405 political prisoners in Belarus, including 174 women and 3 minors. Behind each of them is a family, and at the heart of these family tragedies is a mother who, despite everything, loves and waits for her child.
A Mother’s Experience: Suffering, Hope, and Love
For every mother of an arrested child, the moment of detention is a tear in their inner world. Life suddenly takes on a new meaning: all hopes and dreams fade into the background, and only one goal comes to the forefront — to see their son or daughter free. Every mother of political prisoners goes through this. They feel helpless when they cannot help or even maintain simple communication with their children.
The mother of former political prisoner Nasta Kukhara once shared how she held on with all her strength, not allowing herself to cry. She believed in justice and waited for her daughter’s release, though it was difficult both physically and emotionally. This experience reflects the feelings of many other mothers who are forced to stay strong for their children, understanding that hope is the only thing that keeps those imprisoned going. It was hard for Oksana both physically and emotionally: she lost weight but never lost her faith in a better future.
A Time of Trials
The life of a political prisoner’s mother is one of endless waiting and hope. Every day for them is a battle with their own suffering and public pressure. Some, like Oksana Kukhara, once tried to shout to the world about the injustice, hoping to draw attention to their children’s suffering. But most mothers cannot speak loudly about the wrongful imprisonment due to the dangers that come with public outcry. A mother’s heart cannot reconcile with the injustice of her child’s innocent suffering, but there is no freedom to speak openly.
How You Can Help
Mothers often maintain contact with their children through letters. For political prisoners, letters from the outside are more than just words on paper. They are a breath of freedom, a chance to feel alive and remembered. Likewise, for mothers, receiving a letter from their child is a moment of joy and hope. Unfortunately, not all mothers and not every political prisoner receive these letters...
Every mother whose son or daughter remains behind bars continues to write letters, continues to wait for answers, and believes that one day their children will return home. But this waiting often takes place against a backdrop of general indifference. Therefore, their main call is to not forget about political prisoners.
You can support a political prisoner and their family through letters, informational support, and expressions of solidarity. If you want to help, take the time to write to them, to remind them that they are remembered. For them, it is more than just words — it is the feeling that they are not left alone with their grief. This Mother’s Day, do a good deed — support a political prisoner and their mother!
You can also support political prisoners through “A Country to Live In” foundation by making a one-time donation or subscribing to regular payments via this link: https://by.stranafund.org/article/donate
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