Just two days ago, I wrote that the Kremlin has been eerily quiet of late, other than Vladimir Putin’s off-the-wall accusation that Volodomyr Zelensky is somehow the “illegitimate” president of Ukraine — which, when one considers the source, is actually a rather amusing example of the pot calling the kettle black.

But there have been no new threats emanating from Moscow, no signs of movement toward negotiating a resolution of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine . . . and no word of further arrests of political dissenters or so-called “foreign agents.”

Nor has there been any indication of progress toward the release of those political prisoners already being held in Russia, as well as in Belarus. And that is especially worrisome in light of the change of administration in Washington, and the fact that no one is able to predict what may happen there from moment to moment, or what may transpire between Messrs. Putin and Trump.

But in the hope that even a single voice can still be heard, I keep my vigil for those whose names I know, and continue to remember them each week. They are:

David Barnes
Ales Bialiatski (in Belarus)
Gordon Black
Andrei Chapiuk (in Belarus)
Marc Fogle
Robert Gilman
Stephen James Hubbard
Ksenia Karelina
Ihar Karney (in Belarus)
Vadim Kobzev
Andrey Kuznechyk (in Belarus)
Uladzimir Labkovich (in Belarus)
Michael Travis Leake
Aleksei Liptser
Ihar Losik (in Belarus)
Daniel Martindale
Farid Mehralizada (in Azerbaijan)
Marfa Rabkova (in Belarus)
Igor Sergunin
Dmitry Shatresov
Robert Shonov
Eugene Spector
Valiantsin Stafanovic (in Belarus)
Siarhei Tsikhanouski (in Belarus)
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland
Vladislav Yesypenko (in Crimea)
Yuras Zyankovich (in Belarus)

*. *. *

I repeat my message to Donald Trump:

“Amidst all of the hubbub of your new administration, it is imperative that these innocent men and women not be forgotten. Negotiations for their safe release have been underway for some time. President Joe Biden succeeded in bringing home 16 innocent people on August 1st of last year; you should be trying to do even more. But whatever you do, do not drop the ball on this. The people you promised to represent are counting on you.”

And one further note for Vladimir Putin and Aleksandr Lukashenko:

“Israel and Hamas are gradually releasing hostages. Russia and Belarus should certainly be able to do at least as much.”

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/9/25