Political Prisoners Share Harrowing Stories After Escape from Belarus

Wed Nov 05 2025 06:28:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Following a controversial US-Belarus deal, former political prisoners reveal the brutal realities of their incarceration and the challenges of adapting to freedom.

Larysa Shchyrakova, among 52 political prisoners recently freed from Belarus, recounted traumatic experiences of imprisonment, loss, and the harsh realities of life post-release. Many now reside in Lithuania, struggling to adjust after years of harsh treatment. Their stories illuminate the brutality within Belarusian prisons, highlighting the plight of political dissidents under the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, amidst international diplomacy and ongoing human rights violations.

Larysa Shchyrakova would have preferred to remain in prison for her final months rather than being forcibly moved from Belarus to Lithuania with other political prisoners. Released as part of a deal involving U.S. President Donald Trump and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Larysa’s release came amidst significant personal sacrifices, including the inability to say goodbye to her mother before her death.

In total, 52 prisoners were evacuated; many now lack documentation and fear re-arrest if they return to Belarus. Veteran opposition politician Mikola Statkevich, who refused to leave the border bus, has not been heard from since. Mikalai Dziadok, another activist, spent five years imprisoned under harsh conditions, including solitary confinement and continuous threats.

Human rights advocates highlight that solitary confinement is commonly used as punishment for political prisoners in Belarus. The conditions are dire, with freezing cells, inadequate clothing, and psychological torment from fellow inmates, presumably encouraged by prison guards deemed to keep prisoners under control.

Despite the harsh legacy of their incarceration, Larysa and others are working to rebuild their lives in Lithuania, supported by the Belarusian expat community. They share haunting stories of survival and resilience, reminding the world of the ongoing plight faced by political dissidents under Lukashenko's regime.