Wives of political prisoners: “This is just another portion of promises”

Wives of political prisoners comment on Lukashenka's promises to consider pardon petitions.

Maryna Admovich, the wife of political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, does not hope for the release of her husband in spite of Lukashenka's recent promise to pardon certain political prisoners who applied for clemency, Radio Svaboda reports.

“The position voiced by Lukashenka is an attempt to find a way out of the situation that exist in our country due to his unwise actions. His theses are oriented to the European vector.

As for Mikalai, I think it won't influence on him. I do not expect he will be released. Alyaksandr Lukashenka likes to throw promises. He does it regularly to play his games and blackmail the EU and the USA. But this game lasts for too long. I hope Mikalai's associates will be freed, but I doubt this situation will have any influence on him.

Only an economic situation and a tough position of the countries which hoped for such a long time it's possible to deal with the authorities can have an effect,” Maryna Adamovich said.

Volha, the wife of political prisoner Zmitser Bandarenka, has no hopes her husband may be released after Lukashenka's promise to pardon certain political prisoners who signed appropriate petitions.

“These are just words of Lukashenka. This matter can be discussed only if they are released. I do not have any hopes. It was a statement. Let's wait what will come next,” Volha Bandarenka said.