Siarhei Skrabets: EU leaders gave free hand to Belarusian authorities

The dictator is not going to release political prisoners.

Politician and former parliamentary candidate Siarhei Skrabets said it an in interview with Radio Racyja, commenting on the news about a new trial against Mikalai Statkevich.

“The visit of the German and French leaders to the Minsk talks gave the Belarusian authorities a free hand and in fact allowed carrying out the policy they want. This policy is well known. It hasn't changed for 20 years. Many opponents of the authorities had to go abroad, some remain in jail or unemployed, like me. Former prisoners understand the further struggle against the authorities has no sense and leave politics. The Belarusian authorities cleaned up the political stage. They do whatever they want. Moreover, Europe has become more loyal to the authorities,” Siarhei Skrabets said.

– EU officials perhaps think the Belarusian authorities are not so bad in comparison to what Putin is doing.

– I think Europe likes what Lukashenka is doing in the foreign policy. They think he controls Belarus, which is a buffer zone between Russia and Europe. It is a disputable question who controls whom. Belarus is tied by Moscow. It seems to me that Europe does not consider our country to be a strategic partner or a political subject in the long term. It explains their attitude towards the political prisoners.

– Can we conclude from your answers that Mikalai Statkevich is unlikely to be released early?

– You may call me a pessimist, but it's going to be like that. Moreover, he may be sentenced to an additional year in prison, as it happened to some other political prisoners. I am sure that Europe will swallow it. I do not understand how it is possible to welcome the release of a political prisoner who served the whole term of punishment. What can Europe “welcome” in this situation? The Belarusian authorities dictate their terms to Europe.

Mikalai Statkevich is held in a cell-type unit without daylight. He has the right to a 30-minute walk in the yard every day.

It became known in early April that the administration of the correctional facility increased pressure on the opposition politician. He was accused of violating prison rules eight times during one week. The political prisoner was deprived of a short-term visit and a food parcel. Having spent three days in a punishment cell, he was transferred to the cell-type unit on April 3 for two months.

Mikalai Statkevich is the only presidential candidate of the 2010 elections who remains behind bars. In May 2011, he was sentenced to six years of imprisonment for organising mass disorders on the election day. International human rights organisations recognised Statkevich a political prisoner.

The politician initially served his sentence in correctional facility No.17 in Shklou, but confinement conditions were strengthened for him in January 2012. He was transferred to prison No.4 in Mahilou for three years. Statkevich returned to Shklou on January 12 this year. He received two warnings for violating prison rules during the first days after the transfer. The politician may face a new term of imprisonment.