Natallia Radzina: the sanctions are obviously working

Editor of the website charter97.org Natallia Radzina points out that the political prisoners were exonerated two weeks after the introduction of sanctions against Lukashenka’s oligarchs and their businesses.

The journalist said in an interview to Radio Svaboda:

“The sanctions are obviously working. This is a very good example of what happens when Lukashenka is talked to in a language that he understands, the language of force.

Of course, we should struggle for release of all political prisoners. 15 more are in jail, and we must fight for their freedom.

I wouldn’t say that the regime is changing its politics. I don’t think that a dictator can change. Nevertheless, this is a positive step and it should be appreciated. But it is very important right now that the others are also released, not only Andrei Sannikov and Zmitser Bandarenka who are however leaders of the Belarusian opposition and key figures of the country. We must struggle for release of all the others – Ales Bialiatski, Siargey Kavalenka, Mikola Statkievich, Zmitser Dashkievich, Mikola Autukhovich and others.

I wouldn’t return to Belarus now, since, as the history shows, any liberalization process that begins in Belarus (which I don’t see at the moment) ends rather tough. The Belarusian dictatorship is not over.