By Mark Feygin, Nadiya Savchenko’s attorney
12.15.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Nadiya replied to Nobel Laureate in Literature Svetlana Alexievich. [Nadiya] cannot keep the book she was given by Alexievich…

Note from Svetlana Alexievich, on the inside cover of her book War’s Unwomanly Face, to Nadiya Savchenko, sent to Nadiya’s prison.

Dear Nadiya,

I admire you, and [I] believe that you will be free and with us.

In dark times, only people like you save our collective dignity and our belief in humanity, the belief that not everyone has gone downhill, that there are those who rose to the occasion – like you did.

Wishing you joy from your strength and your friends in the fight.

[Signed] Svetlana Alexievich
December 1, 2015
Minsk [Belarus]

[Nadiya Savchenko’s response]:

Svetlana Alexievich, please accept my sincerest thanks.

Unfortunately, [Russian authorities] have banned me from receiving books in prison, even the book that I wrote. [They] say that all the literature people send to me has failed the extremism test. [They] suggested that I order books that are available in Russian stores.

I responded that the only books they’ve got on the shelves are ones allowed [by authorities] in Russia, and I am not interested in reading those.

I will gladly read your books when I am out and FREE in Ukraine!

Thank you for your support and your kind attitude towards me and Ukraine.

Respectfully,

[Signed] Nadiya Savchenko
December 15, 2015

Source: Mark Feygin Twitter

This translation work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The rights pertaining to the original work remain unaffected.