When the Belarusian author Svetlana Alexeyevich suspected that she was about to be abducted from her home by masked men, several European diplomats and ambassadors came to the author's residence to offer moral support.
Russian-American author and journalist Masha Gessen is now urging European leaders to openly express their support for the Nobel laureate.
"Where are all the prime ministers?"
- We pretend that there is some kind of consensus in the world and Europe that culture is something incredibly important.
But where is everyone now?
Where are all the prime ministers ?, Gessen says to Kulturnyheterna and continues:
- This is not a matter for the EU but for individual leaders to say to Mr Lukashenko: this person must be protected.
Is Svetlana Alexievitch scared?
- Of course she is scared, says Masha Gessen.
Wants to stay in his home country
Despite the events, Alexeyevich wants to stay in his homeland and will not go into exile.
It writes Masha Gessen in The New Yorker.
The goose has known Svetlana Alexievitch for several years and has regular contact with the Nobel Laureate.
This weekend, an estimated 100,000 people protested in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, against President Alexander Lukashenko.
At least 400 people are said to have been arrested.