Polish Memorial launches “Wolni” – a series of interviews with released political prisoners

Polish Memorial has launched a new project, “Wolni”, a series of 15 in-depth interviews with former Belarusian political prisoners who were released in 2025–2026.

As part of the project, the interviewees share their experiences of political repression, imprisonment and regaining their freedom. The interviews are published in their original versions – in Belarusian or Russian – as well as in Polish translation. This makes it possible for the stories of Belarusian political prisoners to reach not only Belarusian audiences, but also the Polish public.

For the Free Belarus Museum, initiatives like this are particularly important. Preserving the personal testimonies of people who have experienced political repression and sharing their stories helps prevent them from being forgotten and contributes to preserving the memory of Belarus’s recent history. Supporting Belarusian political prisoners and bringing their stories to a wider audience is also an important part of international solidarity with the people of Belarus.

We are glad to share materials from the “Wolni” project and hope for further cooperation with Polish Memorial.

Interview with Alena Hnauk

One of the first participants in the project is Alena Hnauk, a Belarusian activist and former political prisoner.

The interview is available in Belarusian and in Polish translation:

• Alena Hnauk – Belarusian version: watch the interview on YouTube
• Alena Hnauk – Polish version: watch the interview in Polish on YouTube

The “Wolni” project documents and preserves the personal stories of people who have experienced political repression in Belarus.

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