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Our Common Wish Will Also Come True!

7
Our Common Wish Will Also Come True!
ANDREI SANNIKOV

That's what millions want, isn't it?

It is a bit sad story. Well, as they all ought to be on Christmas Eve.

I was celebrating the year 2011 in prison, to be precise, in the KGB pre-trial detention center informally called "Amerikanka". After the first interrogations and the refusal to testify I hoped that they wouldn't touch me in on New Year's Eve and took it into the head to organize for myself the transition from one year to the next as close to a traditional celebration as possible. In other words, with a festive table, low minded pop songs from the TV, and a Christmas tree. And, of course, without the 10:00 p.m. bedtime routine. Of all that Christmas stuff, only the New Year's table was beyond the argument. The cell had received care packages with food from the relatives, so we could do without the "authorized," i.e. prison meals.

There were four of us in the cell for three, which was not so dusty.

The cell had a TV set, but it was completely disconnected from the external signal and was only showing crackling black and gray stripes. However, with the help of an iron frame for glasses, spoons and "shliomka", an iron prison bowl, I managed to create some sort of receiver, and (oh my God!) the TV set started working.

Late in the afternoon, I was summoned to the head of the pre-trial detention center, who had dropped into work from their Chekist meeting in the club, which was a stone's throw from the prison. I never understood why he summoned me. Perhaps to report to his superiors about his zeal in the job, saying I was working even during the festivities. Probably, just to mock me with a story about the weather outside and the approaching holiday.

When the guard was already taking me out of the office, I did not even ask, but stated that I was not going to comply with the regime that night, and that the whole cell was determined to celebrate New Year's Eve at midnight. The jailer was silent, and I realized that we would not be disturbed.

The only thing left out of the obligatory set was the Christmas tree.

Actually, this is why I am writing this post: to advise how to make it. A beautiful Christmas tree comes out of a bunch of grapes. Maybe, someone will need such a peculiar tip.

Unfortunately, a lot of wonderful people, heroes of our Belarus will have to celebrate the New Year behind bars. I sincerely wish them and all of us speedy freedom.

On that New Year's Eve of 2011 I made one wish: for Ira to be released from prison, so that she could hug and comfort Danka as soon as possible. It came true soon afterwards. Our common wish will also come true! That's what millions of people want!

Andrei Sannikov, Facebook

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