Mariya Kalenik

, convicted in the "student case", left Belarus after her release from the colony.

In autumn, she will start studying at the Vilnius Academy of Arts.

"I did not feel safe.

Now I really want to continue participating in the life of the country.

To help Belarus become a new Belarus.

Why?

Because I want to be able to return home - to where my family and friends are.

I want to have the right to work at any job in Belarus, not only at the one where I will be hired because of a criminal record," said Maria Kalenik in an interview with the politzek.me project.

The girl told about how she was in the pre-trial detention center and how she served her sentence in the colony, where she crossed paths with another political prisoner,

Maria Kalesnikova

.

"She [Maria Kalesnikova] was very inspiring.

Her sewing machine is under the video camera itself, and no one is allowed to sit on it without the permission of the head of the shop or the craftsman," said Maria Kalenik.

According to her, before Kalesnikova's arrival, they started transferring people with a reputation of being a "pretend person" to the colony.

"There was a case when a convict with such a reputation briefly asked Maria for a watch.

And then an operative immediately came and found them.

Everything was planned.

According to the rules of the internal procedure, things cannot be handed over, so they both received a report, but that girl was not punished, and Maria was deprived of a date.

Because of one of the pretexts, she even sat in the SHIZA," Kalenik said.

The girl added that the colony is very afraid that the convicts will maintain relations and talk with Kalesnikova.

"They made something out of her about a bomb, which is dangerous for everyone to be around.

Possible conversations with her are controlled, that's why we and Maria tried not to set each other up: we just winked when we met, smiled.

When it was noticed that her lips were painted, it lifted the mood.

Although it annoyed many convicts not for politics.

"Phew, it's painted again," they said, and it inspired us," said Maria Kalenik.

According to her, it was forbidden to discuss the topic of the war in Ukraine in the colony.

"Before calling our relatives, we were told: "Don't even think about asking about Ukraine.

No news.

Only about nature, the weather, and how your loved ones are doing".

They warned with tension in their voices.

The calls were listened to by operatives, the head of the squad.

It's as if they tried to completely block us from this news," the girl added.

On July 16, 2021, the Minsk Soviet District Court handed down verdicts in the "student case".

10 students, a teacher and a graduate were found guilty of organizing student protests and committing a crime as part of a group.

Most of the 12 accused were detained by the KGB on November 12, 2020.

All those convicted in this case served their sentences and were released at the end of 2022.

What is known about the participants in the "student case"

Anastasia Bulibenko

Former student of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the National Technical University of Ukraine.

He was detained on November 12, 2020, and has been in custody since then.

19 years old.

Victoria Hronkovskaya

Former student of the Faculty of Architecture of BNTU.

Victoria lost her parents at a very young age.

Her grandmother raised her and her older brother.

She graduated from the Horaden College of Arts, worked at the art school in Dziatlav.

He was detained on November 12 last year, and has been in custody since then.

24 years old.

Alan Gebremariam

A graduate of the Belarusian State Medical University.

As an activist of the "Youth Block", she took part in the 2019 election campaign for the House of Representatives.

Last year, Alana became a member of the Coordination Council.

Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya appointed her as her representative in youth affairs.

She was detained on November 12 last year, and has been in custody since then.

24 years old.

Gleb Fitzner

Fourth-year student of Minsk State Linguistic University.

He graduated from the prestigious linguistic gymnasium-college No. 24, is interested in economics and finance.

He was detained on November 12 last year, and has been in custody since then.

22 years old.

Tatiana Yakelchyk

A 2nd-year student of the BSU mechmat, is engaged in powerlifting and sports dancing.

Detained by KGB officers on November 27 last year.

Yehor Konetsky

A student of the Faculty of Biology of BSU, a member of the Association of Belarusian Students, an activist of the Free Trade Union.

Yagor is a graduate of the chemical and biological profile of the Minsk State Regional Lyceum, an activist of the Free Trade Union of BSU.

He was detained on November 12 last year and has been in custody since then.

21 years old.

She is Arab

Student of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University, activist, supporter of the "Union of Belarusian Students".

She was detained on November 12 last year and has been in custody since then.

20 years.

Ksenia Syromalot

Student of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of BSU, press secretary of the Association of Belarusian Students, volunteer of the human rights center "Viasna".

He was detained on November 12 last year, and has been in custody since then.

21 years old.

Kasia Budzko

3rd-year student of the Faculty of Aesthetic Education of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University, supporter of the Association of Belarusian Students.

Artist, illustrator.

She was detained on November 12 last year and has been in custody since then.

19 years old.

Ilya Trachtenberg

Former student of the Faculty of Mathematics of BSU.

Ilya was expelled from the second course last year at the end of October, although he received an increased scholarship, and was served with a summons to the military service.

Ilya's great-grandfather is the famous Soviet architect Navum Trachtenberg, according to whose project the central part of Minsk was reconstructed.

Ilya was detained last year on November 12, and since then he has been in custody.

19 years old.

Maria Kalenik

Student of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts, studies exhibition design.

She was detained on November 12 last year and has been in custody since then.

22 years old.

Olga Filatchenkova

A teacher at BDUIR, participated in the strike of university employees and was one of the participants in a video appeal to Belarusians against violence.

She was an independent observer at the 2020 presidential elections.

Olga is 42 years old.

She is raising a 7-year-old daughter alone.

Her eldest son is 18 years old and a student.

She was detained on November 12 last year, since then Olga has been in custody.