When you think of student protestors you might think of philosophy students at UCL smoking cigarettes and finger painting.
In Belarus they get in trouble for less, and Kseniya was one of them back in 2020. She was arrested and spent two years in prison. The very sad thing about Kseniya is how innocent she makes the whole thing sound, there was no scheming or machinations, just some kids who understood they were the future.
She worked for Viasna, helping parents understand where there kids ended up when they were arrested. And then got imprisoned. We spoke about family, milkshakes, and prison conditions, then how she swam to freedom across a river into Lithuania. Brave girl.
She left me thinking about all the struggles and sacrifice it took in history to get me my rights. How it was done in the name of family, friends and freedom.
Reach me at: mirrorinmycell@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/thomaszarand