Yelena Leuchanka To Her Parents: You Are My Heroes, You Already Won

• 3.11.2020, 13:42

An emotional appeal of the basketball star.

Belarusian basketball player Yelena Leuchanka has posted on her Facebook page an emotional appeal to her parents, and told how she saw their photo near the Akrestsin Street detention center.

"Early morning. October 15, 2020. The Akrestsin Street prison. Detention, day 15 - and the new administrative case. I knew they wouldn't let me out. Cell number 20.

On that day, I woke up at once, at 6 a.m. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I had packed my things before - you never know what could happen next. Breathing exercises… I was shivering inside, though. It was not me I felt worried about.

The time of my anticipated release was coming -7.20 a.m. Are my parents standing there, at the prison walls, waiting for me to come out? I wanted to believe that they weren't, that someone had warned them. At the same time I was overwhelmed with the thoughts like "What if they don't know that I was detained again? That I will not come out, that there is a new administrative case against me?"

Those thoughts made me feel uneasy. I was very worried about my parents precisely at that moment. The most painful, unfair thing is that you cannot do anything. At all.

Then I saw this photo… There was an explosion of emotions: anger, offense, the feeling of injustice, even hatred. At the same time, in this photo I saw love, support, care, and unity. I will dwell on these light feelings, because they are stronger than those, other ones. Light always wins. And my parents have won, as they held on and believed that everything will be alright, no matter how hard it was for them. I admire their inner strength.

Mom was especially worried about me when I went to the Marches, it was hard for her. But she never tried to stop me from going.

Mom, dad, thank you for everything! Thank you for never reproaching me, thank you for giving a supportive shoulder, as I sometimes also need someone to lean on. They casted the most cynical blow against you. But you withstood it with dignity, I admire you! You replied to cruelty with love. And this means, you already won. You are my heroes!" Leuchanka writes.

Yelena Leuchanka was not released right after she had served 15 days of detention. Early in the morning on the day of her anticipated release, her parents, friends, and fans came to meet her at the prison walls. At 7.20 a.m. Leuchanka's mother was notified that Yelena had to go through another trial, during which the basketball star was fined, and then set free.