Maryna Zolatava: Political prisoner Tatsiana Kolas diagnosed with cancer. This is not just bad news, it's terrible news

"Political prisoner Tatsiana Kolas has been diagnosed with cancer. This is not just bad news. This is terrible news, because she is in a penal colony."

To be honest, I personally have had little experience with prison medicine. But during the time I was in the penal colony (and I spent two years and four months there), at least two women died of cancer. One was older, from my unit, convicted under an economic article. The other was younger, under Article 328. However, the article doesn't matter. What matters is that they were people, women.

Political prisoner Hanna Kandratsenka was also diagnosed with cancer while in the penal colony. She was even taken for treatment to an oncological dispensary in Homel. She died seven months after her release.

And I wonder: would they have had more chances if they were free? Undoubtedly. At the very least, their lives and health would depend much more on themselves, and not on the system, the convoy, the availability of beds in "that one hospital", the schedule of "that one specialist" who might well be on vacation in the summer, access to medicines, and much more.

Tatsiana Kolas should be transferred to a hospital for examination and treatment, but for some reason, they plan to do this only in a few months.

You all, of course, remember how in 2020 Veronika Tsepkalo talked about her mother. A criminal case was initiated against her, and later she was diagnosed with cancer. Veronika, after visiting her mother in the hospital, was shocked: she was handcuffed to the radiator.

Then I thought: it can't be. But now I can say — don't even doubt it.

Convicts who are brought from the penal colony to city hospitals are always handcuffed to the bed. A convoy is always with them.

And one more thing remains beyond my comprehension. Why, in those three cases I mentioned, was their type of punishment not changed? Why couldn't they be released home?

I wish Tatsiana health and strength. And to meet with her relatives as soon as possible. I believe that only then will she definitely recover," Maryna Zolatava wrote.

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Tatsiana Kolas worked in the Minsk City Executive Committee and had access to the personal data of security forces, which she then transferred to the "Black Book of Belarus" Telegram channel.

In June 2022, security forces reported that the woman allegedly "surrendered" herself to GUBOPiK. Tatsiana was left free before trial, under house arrest.

In September 2022, she was sentenced to six and a half years under four articles of the Criminal Code:

• Part 3 of Article 203-1 — Illegal actions regarding information about private life and personal data;
• Part 3 of Article 130 — Incitement of racial, national, religious, or other social enmity or discord;
• Part 3 of Article 352 — Unlawful acquisition of computer information;
• Part 3 of Article 426 — Abuse of power or official authority.

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