“Babariko is alive!”
Those were the words of Viktor Babariko's team after seeing the first photos of the Belarusian opposition politician who has been imprisoned for more than 630 days.
Babariko was arrested in 2020 while trying to run for president against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, and Babariko was then held incommunicado behind bars as additional punishment.
His political team describes the time when there was no contact or information about him at all as “torturous”.
In a short video clip just released, Babariko was seen sending his regards to his family. There are also three photographs, including one that appears to show him writing a letter to relatives as well. It is not clear exactly when the photos were taken.
The former banker, who was wearing black prison clothing, has lost a significant amount of weight since his arrest.
Other prominent political prisoners have also been held incommunicado in Belarus, including Maria Kolesnikova, who was part of Babariko's 2020 presidential campaign team until his arrest.
She then became one of the leaders of the mass protests that broke out after the election, which the European Union said was rigged to keep Lukashenko in office.
Last November, similar photos of Kolesnikova, taken in prison when her father was allowed her first visit in more than a year and a half, were suddenly published. There has been no news about her since then.
In both cases, the photos and videos were posted by Roman Protasevich, co-founder of the widely followed Telegram channel Nexta during the 2020 mass protests.
In 2021, he was arrested after his flight was diverted mid-air to Belarus and forced to land following a false bomb threat.
The former activist was later released from prison after making a public apology, and is now cooperating with authorities.
In a short video he posted alongside photos of Victor Babariko, he said the prisoner “looked good,” claimed he was cheerful and that they chatted, joked and “even laughed” together. Babariko cannot comment himself.
Photos of the former presidential candidate appeared shortly before the next elections in Belarus, on January 26. This time, no real opposition candidate was allowed to participate at all.
There have been reports that known political prisoners are being pressured to seek a formal pardon from Lukashenko before the vote, so that he can release them and appear merciful.
It is also possible that the photos of Viktor Babariko in prison are meant to remind Belarusians of the enormous dangers of open dissent.
A few dozen lesser-known figures have been released in recent months, but others have been quickly arrested to take their place.
The human rights group Viasna currently estimates that there are 1,258 political prisoners in the country.
Among the prominent names who have not been seen or heard from for several months is Sergei Tikhanovsky, the political activist who was arrested in 2020 and whose wife Svetlana went to run in his place.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the opposition leader who was forced into exile, told the BBC this week that the upcoming presidential election was a “sham” and a “performance” orchestrated by Alexander Lukashenko in order to extend his grip on power.
