Political Prisoner Mikhail Zhamchuzhny: Letters From Outside Are As Valuable As Gold Now

Recently, the political prisoner has had problems filing complaints with the courts.

In his latest letter to Vitsebsk human rights defenders, political prisoner Mikhail Zhamchuzhny expresses the opinion that society is losing interest in him. The strong flow of correspondence he received a year earlier has turned into rare letters, Vitsebsk Viasna writes.

Zhamchuzhny associates it with the "election campaign", which has been held in Belarus.

"These "elections" took all my addressees out of the stride. I'm very sorry for them. I understand how hard it is to survive a three-month election marathon - both as candidates and observers at polling stations," - Mikhail Zhamchuzhny expresses his understanding of the situation in the country.

"Yes, indeed, political prisoner Zhamchuzhny has repeatedly informed me in letters that the intensity of correspondence with civil activists has significantly decreased. Now the letters from the ouside, according to Mikhail, have become "as valuable as gold". Now they come less often, the amount of support and public attention to the prisoner has decreased," - human rights activist from Vitsebsk Leoanid Svetsik says.

Recently, Zhamchuzhny has had problems with filing complaints to the courts. In fact, the administration of the colony has deprived the political prisoner of his constitutional right to defense.

"Now they're blocking my correspondence with the courts, demanding a stamp for 5 kopecks. The statements are returned, the deadlines for appeal are over, and the decisions get legal force. And I can't find this stamp! The situation is desperate..." - the political prisoner says in the letter.

Zhamchuzhny believes that such restrictions are related to his right strategy of protection in courts.

The political prisoner commends the work of all human rights defenders.

"I, being in detention and cooperating with human rights activists since August 2014, have pursued the only goal - that there would be no more political prisoners in Belarus," - Mikhail Zhamchuzhny writes.

In the last days of December, before another term in the punitive confinement, Mikhail Zhamchuzhny congratulated all representatives of civil society in Belarus on the great winter holidays: "I wish you all good health! Long live Belarus!"