Ekaterina Shust

was detained on March 16 - on a video taken under the coercion of security forces, Ekaterina "confesses" in Belarusian to spreading "extremist" materials on her social networks, and also allegedly registered in the chatbot of the "Victory" plan.

The newspaper "Novy Chas" published a letter from Ekaterina Shust, which she wrote at the end of 2021 and left to friends in case of detention.

Friends forwarded the letter to the editors.

Here is what Kateryna wrote

  • If it's public, then I'm behind bars.

    And hardly for a long time.

    Because when they detained me and searched my apartment and checked the equipment, they found everything.

    I fundamentally did not unsubscribe from "extremist" Telegram channels.

    I didn't raise my hand to get rid of the flag, "Chase" and other symbols, to delete photos from the protests.

    I wouldn't give up my values ​​for anything and pretend that I'm a random person.

    Because for me it is a matter of honor and conscience.

  • I can only hope that I had enough strength and courage and no "repentant" video of me appeared.

    And when it appeared, it means that I was very, very hurt and I am not as strong as I thought.

    Forgive me for this, friends.

  • Could I avoid detention, go abroad?

    I don't see the point in this.

    My entire conscious life is connected with the Motherland and my struggle for a better destiny for her.

    All those whom I loved and love, loved and love, appeared in my life on the long path of this struggle.

    The most precious thing I have is my mother, my friends and my country.

  • I found my real home and became myself just because I live in Belarus, and I can't imagine my fate without her.

    You can be free and safe, find a comfortable home and a good job, see beautiful places - but for me there would be no joy in this if it was the price of saying goodbye to the Motherland.

  • That's why I'd rather be in prison, but in my native land, than in a foreign country, than to betray everything I believe in and live for.

Kateryna Shust is a former activist of the BNF party.

In 2016, she ran for deputy in Slutsk.

She also worked as a seller of Belarusian symbols for a long time.