Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk Donates Unique Exhibits to the Museum of Free Belarus — Ballots from 2020 That Were Attempted to Be Burned
The collection of the Museum of Free Belarus in Warsaw was enriched with unique artifacts in January 2024. Former political prisoner Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk handed over original ballots from the 2020 presidential elections that were pulled from a fire.
The history of these documents is dramatic. As noted by the museum, authorities tried to destroy them in one of the boiler rooms in Brest on August 10-11, 2020, immediately after the elections, to hide traces of falsifications. However, local activists managed to literally pull the papers from the fire and later handed them over to Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk. This is reported by «Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty».
All the time the activist was imprisoned, the ballots were securely hidden in Belarus. It should be recalled that Palina spent several years behind bars — her sentence was twice extended under an article for «malicious disobedience to the colony administration». Only after her release in February 2025 and the urgent evacuation of her family abroad did it become possible to remove these pieces of evidence.
Now 20 ballots have become new exhibits of the museum. Traces of fire are clearly visible on them, as well as the signatures of members of the election commissions, which testifies to the authenticity of the documents. The museum emphasizes: the rescued sheets are not only an object of collective memory but also direct evidence of the regime's crimes that can be used in future trials.
The Museum of Free Belarus, founded in Warsaw in 2022, specializes precisely in such testimonies of the era. Its funds already store more than 400 exhibits reflecting the struggle of Belarusians: from prison robes and letters from political prisoners (including Viktar Babaryka and the tortured Ales Pushkin) to belongings of Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment fighters. The transfer of the ballots became another contribution to preserving the truth about the events of 2020.
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А хто ня згодны, дашліце ў рэдакцыю свае паўспаленыя бюлетэні - і мы тут усё ўзважым і вырашым па справядлівасці!