As Alice in Wonderland said: here, you have to run just to stay in place. And to get anywhere, you have to run twice as fast. ⠀ I ran, I tried, I fell, I went on a hunger strike—but without your help, I still would have done nothing but smash my head against the wall. ⠀ Thanks to the enormous support of good people across the country and around the world, we have made tremendous progress. Two months ago, they smirked at my requests for medical help, gave me no medication, and would not allow any to be passed to me. A month ago, they laughed in my face at questions like, “May I know my diagnosis?” and “Can I see my own medical file?” ⠀ Thank you—now I have twice been examined by a panel of civilian doctors. The last time was right before the rally. They are conducting tests and examinations and giving me the results and conclusions. ⠀ The doctors whom I trust completely issued a statement yesterday saying that you and I have achieved enough for me to end the hunger strike. And—speaking frankly—their words that the test results show that “in a very short time, there will be no one left to treat”... hmm... strike me as worth taking seriously. ⠀ Another argument, perhaps an even more important one for me, was that several people began hunger strikes in solidarity with me, including representatives of the Mothers of Beslan (an organization of relatives of victims of the 2004 Beslan school siege). Tears came to my eyes when I read that. My God, I do not even know these people, and yet they are doing this for me. ⠀ Friends, my heart is full of love and gratitude for you, but I do not want anyone to suffer physically because of me. I am not withdrawing my demand that the necessary doctor be allowed to see me—I am losing sensation in parts of my arms and legs, and I want to understand what this is and how to treat it—but given the progress and all the circumstances, I am beginning to come off the hunger strike. By the rules, this will take the same 24 days, and they say it is even harder. So wish me luck. ⠀ Once again: this is entirely your achievement. Kind, caring people all over the world. Thank you—I will not let you down.