Paval Sieviaryniec has recorded his first video since his release, publishing it on the Telegram channel @seviarynets created on December 27. In the video, he thanked everyone for their support during his imprisonment and for the reception given to political prisoners in the countries where they arrived.
“Of course, the fact that we were taken out of Belarus is lawlessness. But I believe that we will definitely return and embrace on our native land. In prison I served 5.5 years; in total I now have more than 11 years. I spoke Belarusian all the time, did not sign a petition for a pardon, and did not admit guilt. Although I do not condemn those who did,” he said.
At the end of the video, the former political prisoner recited a poem of his own composition.
Paval Sieviaryniec was detained in June 2020 and sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of organising mass unrest. He was among 123 political prisoners released on December 13. Together with most of the freed political prisoners, he was taken to Ukraine. He is currently in Lithuania.
