"I've realized over these six years that I am a very happy person." Andrei Aliaksandrau spoke about his release and first meeting with his wife

"After greeting and hugging all of you, I can even say I feel excellent," Andrei Aliaksandrau replied when asked how he was feeling.

According to Andrei, there were certain signs that he might be released, "not too far in advance," but they existed. He could only fully believe that it had happened after crossing the border.

"You're never certain until you've exited that bus and seen the sign 'Lietuvos Respublika'. That's it. We waited a very long time, the journey was quite lengthy. But it happened," said the political prisoner, immediately remembering those who remained in Belarusian prisons:

"People are waiting there. They are waiting, everyone has hopes for this negotiation process, and, of course, everyone wants to go home. And I very much hope that these ongoing processes will continue, and all political prisoners from Belarus will also at least be in my place."

Journalists specifically asked Aliaksandrau how his first meeting with his wife, Iryna Zlobina, went after a long separation. Iryna was detained on the same day as Andrei and also released on September 16.

"In a warm, friendly atmosphere," Andrei joked at the beginning of his answer and continued:

"Excellent, of course, I am happy. We haven't seen each other almost since the wedding, so there will be many long days and nights of conversations, exchanging thoughts, prison 'mastyrki' (prison slang for homemade items or things passed around), how everyone was 'moving' (getting by)."

Speaking about his experiences, Aliaksandrau admitted that during his years in captivity, he gained a new perspective on his own life and how others perceived him.

"I am very glad to be free, and overall, I've realized over these six years that I am a very happy person, because so many good people care about Andrei Aliaksandrau. I received so many warm words over these six years, well, while it was possible to receive them, from strangers."

Aliaksandrau spent his last day before release in Minsk pre-trial detention center No. 1.

"I walked around the cell in SIZO No. 1 from one corner to another."

"And before that?" one of the journalists inquired.

"And before that, I walked around another cell from one corner to another. And this morning, we came here," Aliaksandrau joked.

The process of being taken to Lithuania, according to him, went without conflicts.

"During the release, everything was maximally correct and calm. Well, I can generally say that in six years, I experienced no violence against myself. And today, everything went very constructively, calmly, absolutely without incident."

The journalist chose not to reveal all the procedures that took place before his departure. He only mentioned searches and other regime activities, after which the released individuals were driven to the border.

"Then, on a comfortable MAZ bus, we were taken to the border, and that's it. Everything went quickly."

Journalist and media manager Andrei Aliaksandrau and his wife Iryna Zlobina had been imprisoned since January 2021.

In October 2022, Aliaksandrau was sentenced to 14 years in a general regime correctional colony. Andrei did not admit guilt. He served his sentence in Navapolatsk correctional colony No. 1.

Iryna Zlobina was sentenced to 9 years in prison. The woman served her sentence in a Homel colony.

• 2
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 1
• 0
• 1