Stories After Release

How do you learn to trust the world again after prison? How do you find safety, purpose, and joy in everyday life? Former Belarusian political prisoners share their personal stories after release.

«Don’t Ask What It’s Like for a Mother in Exile Without Her Children»: The Story of Anna Papaj

We are launching a series of interviews with former political prisoners. How do they readapt to normal life after imprisonment, and what do they dream about? Our first story is about Anna Papaj. Today, she lives in Poland, longs for the day she will be reunited with her children, and dreams of opening her own café in Minsk.

July 14, 2026