Diary from Poland: Maria waited for the bus for five years

This diary column from taz.de describes a poignant family reunion at the Warszawa Zachodnia bus station in Warsaw. The author, Ljubow Lunjowa, accompanies Maria's daughter Olga and granddaughter Anja as they wait for Maria, who is finally arriving from Belarus after five years of separation. The story details the family's ordeal: Olga, a journalist, was arrested twice in Belarus for her work and participation in protests, and was forced to flee in 2021 with only half an hour to pack. Maria was prevented from leaving earlier due to a raid where security forces found 'extremist' channels on her phone and an old Facebook comment condemning violence, leading to a search of her apartment. The article highlights the plight of tens of thousands of Belarusian families separated by political repression, the closure of rail and air links between Poland and Belarus, and the long, uncertain waits at the border. The reunion at platform 8 symbolizes both the pain of exile and the resilience of family bonds.