«Most sit honestly, but quietly.» Pavel Vinahradau on political prisoners whose names are unknown

Photo: Intex-press

«Here, media political celebrities come out, talk about what they went through and what happened to them. They receive sympathy, respect, applause. They are invited everywhere, shaken hands with, and their goblets filled with the magical ambrosia of admiration.

I also barely touched this, and I knew it would be so.

It's understandable: if you're imprisoned as a media representative, they will write about you no matter what, even if all that happens to you is 'lost 10 kg'.

Partially, the understanding that thousands of eyes would be fixed on you after prison motivated me to act as dignified as possible. Because I knew they would ask: «Pavlik, how did it go?» And it's much more pleasant to roar something like: «I roasted them all on a spit!» in response to that question, than to mumble about admitting guilt, pardon, cooperation with the administration, and «we survived as best we could.»

Therefore, I hear that the necessity to say something coherent after release greatly motivates not only me but also most of those whose names appear in the news to keep their buttocks tightly clenched.

But what if you have no media presence? What if only your relatives know about your existence? How are you doing there, brother (sister)?

Of course, they are the majority. Mostly — good guys. About each one, you could write a story with a pathetic title like «How So-and-So fell into the gears of a bloody dictatorship and managed to preserve himself» or something similar.

Most sit honestly, but quietly. Because everyone knows: attract attention — prepare for the isolation cell (that's the minimum). But among them are guys who make you wonder and think: «Where do you get the strength for all this?»

Because no one will unload truckloads of likes under your internet posts. Because you are objectively not very interesting to the media. Because neither the Pope nor the President of Poland will meet with you.

Of course, they won't abandon you and will help you literally with everything after your release, but you don't know that!

And they sit in isolation cells no less than other Dziadkous, Sieviaryntsau, and Vinahradau. They also have no calls, visits, parcels, or letters. They are also cold. They are also hungry. They are also scared.

Most of them, before 2020, heard about politics only with the smallest tip of their left ear. They don't need grants, grand receptions at embassies, media appearances, and everything that can tickle the ego of such an arrogant creature as me, for example. For them, a sense of self-worth and principles are already sufficient motivators. And I want to believe that for me too.

But when I'm overwhelmed by various thoughts and surrender to synthesis and analysis, I ask myself: «Pasha, what if you didn't know that countless people were watching your fate, would you behave the same way?» I hope so, ladies and gentlemen. I hope so. I'll be back,» wrote Pavel Vinahradau.

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