Alena Likhavid: I am proud of my son

Mikita Likhavid is only 20. He is a student of the faculty of law at Institute of Management.

Activist of For Freedom movement Mikita Likhavid is standing trial in the Partyzanski court of Minks today. He is charged with the so called mass riot on December 19. Radio Svaboda invited his mother Alena Likhavid for a talk.

- To start with, could you tell us something about yourself and Mikita? What do you and your son do? How old are you and your son?

- I am an instructor at a toy manufacturing firm. Mikita was a distant student of the faculty of law at Institute of Management. He had worked in Minsk, but then moved to Lithuania. His girlfriend studies there, he wanted to be near her. He tried to find a job there, and he finally succeeded.

- Where is he now?

- Mikita is in a detention facility in Valadarski Street in Minsk. He was in a detention facility in Zhodzina for one and a half month before.

- Was Mikita able to commit a crime? Do you suppose he could have been involved in violence, in a violent attack?

- No, of course he couldn’t. Mikita is a very good and decent person. He was on the Square. As he said “I had to be there”. He could not have done anything bad. Firstly, he hasn’t been brought to criminal responsibility, he has never has problems with police. It just happened that he was filmed. Mikita could not have done anything illegal.

- You son is going to pay high price for his beliefs and political views. Is it worth it? Do you rebuke him?

- No. I am proud of my son so much. I am not ashamed to say for what things he is in jail now. I support him absolutely. I will always be with him. Whatever judgement is delivered today (I hope it will be honest and positive), I will always be with him. I am proud of him. At our latest meeting, I saw a man who will stand everything with honour, though he is only 20.