What is it that motivates Daria Losik to go to the walls of the pre-trial detention centre every day and spend long hours there, with neither the opportunity nor hope of seeing her husband Igor even for a second? What is it that gives her such strength, courage and perseverance? The answer is LOVE. Her love for her husband Igor.
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Ihar Losik is a blogger, creator of the Telegram Channel “Belamova”, and consultant to the Belarusian service of Radio Svaboda. It was he who in 2011 came up with the idea of silent protests. He was arrested in June, was under investigation for more than a year, and now a closed trial is being held against him.
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Ihar is accused of inciting hostility and organising mass riots. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
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In the interview, Daria talks about the reason her husband went on hunger strike and slashed his wrists, his time in solitary confinement, and whether the charges and trial have any legitimacy. She describes the only meeting she has had with her husband, her support, and her family.
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“This was the first and only time I saw him. I went in and saw him sitting in the first booth. To begin with, I couldn’t sit down on a chair near the glass screen which we had to talk through. I immediately covered my face with my hands, overwhelmed with emotion ”