Let them out

Today the authorities want the same as the people of Belarus: exoneration of the political prisoners today.

For more than one year everyone has been waiting tensely; every time Lukashenka makes a statement about the political prisoners, everyone asks the same question: “will they be exonerated?” The hope that very soon, maybe even now, all prisoners of consciousness will be released, lives in every heart.

The most recent promises were made just one week after the economic sanctions had been introduced. But the families don’t dare hope. It has happened many times before – trading, assuring, promising. And then again – repressions, arrests, tortures, humiliations, lists of persons banned from leaving the country, criminal cases on absurd charges. And then again – visa restrictions, ban on business contracts with the dictator’s suite, threats of harder economic sanctions.

The situation has become preposterous. It is obvious that all political prisoners will not be exonerated, the sanctions will be harder and we can wave the World Championship in Ice Hockey goodbye with a hockey club.

Trade is out of question now. The West will never make a step towards Lukashenka while he keeps people in jail, no matter what he says or promises.

The previous scenarios don’t work anymore. Nobody will buy political prisoners from Europe’s last dictator. The terms are rigid and clear even to Belarusian authorities and oligarchs from the suite: there will be a dialogue only if the people are let out. If they aren’t, the regime will keep on getting punched in the face, methodically and painfully.

Probably only Lukashenka himself and his suite know why they are punched. But regular authorities and oligarchs from the system have hard time understanding. How many businessmen tamed by the government are terrified by the possibility to follow Peftsiyeu, Chyzh and Tsiarnauski? They know for sure that everyone is on the lists, everyone is remembered. And they know the reasons, too; the main reason is the political prisoners.

Every time when diplomats, “deputies” and authorities get a chance to travel to the civilized world, they are asked why Andrei Sannikov, Mikola Statkevich, Zmitser Bandarenka, Zmitser Dashkevich and others are still in prison. And they are growing tired from having to answer these questions.

They don’t even know the answers! It was proven at the recent PA OSCE, when a representative of the official Belarusian delegation was murmuring something incomprehensible in reply to a straight question on why the oppositionists are not released, even after submitting forced appeals for pardon. Clearly, they cannot just say: “my master hates them, and this is his personal revenge that he cannot cope with singlehandedly”.

Of course, Lukashenka can ignore the opposition, EU and USA. But dictators still have to think about those whose swards and money keep them alive. People whose minds are not occupied by personal revenge cannot comprehend the actions of the powers. They also ask the question why the political prisoners cannot be released and peace gained. The rebels have been taunted, tortured, humiliated and threatened with violence against their children and wives long enough to please the regime… But they broke no one. This is however another question, a question of truth, justice and freedom that prevail in any situation.

For the regime, survival is the only thing that matters today, but they are wasting time for nonsense: Makey is murmuring something about a dialogue; Martynau is trying to connect the return of EU ambassadors with the removal of the sanctions. Exonerate the political prisoners – and you will be at least heard, and then even answered.

Natallia Radzina, editor of charter97.org