Nikolai Svanidze: «We spoke about personal fund of Lukashenka»
1- 4.01.2008, 15:04
Anatol Lyabedzka is not allowed to leave Belarus due to the criminal case, brought up yet in 2004 after he had given an interview to Russian journalist Nikolai Svanidze. Radio Racyja reached the former host of programme “Zerkalo” (Mirror) on RTR channel and asked him what he thought about the current situation.
– I wish the problem with Lyabedzka would be solved successfully. Of course, objectively and subjectively, I am not guilty. But at some degree I feel I’m guilty of his serious difficulties. In any case I wish this brave decisive man could solve his problem.
– You said in 2004 you were ready to come to Belarus and appear in the case. Would you do it now, if it is necessary?
– I’m not ready to give you a definite answer. I have very complicated relations with Lukashenka. To be more precise, he has complicated relations with me. I’m not sure, this visit is physically possible.
– You are afraid you will not be permitted entry to Belarus?
– In think, a number of difficulties can appear. I’m not sure I will be allowed to Belarus. Likewise I’m not sure I can leave Belarus. It is a difficult problem and I’m not ready to give you a definite answer.
– Do you remember what you were talking with Anatol Lyabedzka in 2004 about and for what the criminal case against him was brought up?
– I ask to understand me, it was three and a half years ago. So I don’t remember the details. But we spoke about personal fund of Lukashenka, where means accumulate. Lyabedzka said this money was received from arms sales.
– Are there cases in your journalistic work when people suffered from the interview you had with them?
– I can’t recollect. Maybe, I just don’t know about them. But public information that a person gave an interview and suffered from that is a precedent in my career. I think it is connected with the fact that most people I had interviews with were citizens of Russia. After all, the regime in Russia was more liberal than in Belarus during many years of my work as a journalist.
