Alla Sokolenko
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Alla Sokolenko
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- Foreign citizens
A Latvian citizen, Alla and a friend came to Belarus for a few days to undergo cosmetic surgery. As the women were leaving, they were detained by KGB officers. After her release, Alla recounted : " During interrogation, it was revealed that I had been taken hostage to be exchanged for a Belarusian who was in Latvia. They told me directly, 'Tell your people that the Belarusians need their man.' They wanted my relatives to contact the Latvian security services to arrange the exchange. My friend, a Russian citizen, was released on the third day, but I remained a Latvian citizen."
Alla was accused of traveling to Belarus for intelligence purposes under the guise of cosmetic surgery. According to investigators, she collected intelligence on behalf of her Latvian intelligence handlers, spied, and even recruited Belarusian servicemen for the Ukrainian army. Her trial began in the Minsk City Court on September 29, 2023. She is accused of being an agent.
On December 19, 2023, the appeal was heard.
On December 13, 2025, she was released after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole, and taken to Lithuania.
How to write a letter
✏️ A postcard with words of encouragement (a poem by your favorite author, song lyrics, or a beautiful quote). Trust us, even such simple gestures are very meaningful to a person in jail.
✏️ Your life events. To a person who is in isolation for a long time, any story about your routine endeavors will be a window into normal life. Your day-to-day worries and mundane matters are much more interesting than the daily grind of life behind bars.
✏️ It is important to share news. Mention the most notable and interesting occurrences depending on your pen-pal's interests.
✍️️ Remember that every letter is censored. This means that your letters are read by strangers whose main goal is to limit inmates' access to information or to use it against the prisoners or even you.
So try to avoid:
👉️️ harsh statements regarding ongoing political matters
👉 statements against the authorities and public servants
👉 foul language
👉 discussion of the circumstances of the criminal case
Involved in repression
