Cell #18

On August 9, 2020, presidential elections were held in Belarus. The incumbent president, in office since 1994, was once again declared the winner.

Thousands of Belarusian citizens took to the streets in protest in belief that the elections were rigged. The state responded through repression and with numerous arrests. The prisons became overcrowded. For almost a week, 36 women were locked up in the 118 sq. ft confines of cell number 18 in Areścina prison* with almost no food, water, medicine, clothing, hygiene products, or air.
After their release, we managed to talk to eleven of them. This is their story.