Belarusian family's ritual: to speak with father, they close windows and use obscure messenger

To talk to his father, the author waits for the evening when his father is at home. To receive a call from Riga, the parents perform a kind of "ritual": they close the vents and open the web version of a messenger that is not found in the top app stores. They are not spies or drug dealers. They are an ordinary Belarusian family now divided by a fence. This daily procedure reflects a reality where even a simple phone conversation becomes a carefully prepared event. Such stories highlight the life of Belarusians trying to maintain contact with relatives abroad, facing technological and political barriers. It is not just a telephone call – it is a way to preserve a connection across the divide.