Maryna Adamovich: Mikalai Statkevich needs solidarity

Pressure on political prisoners continues, and even a letter means big support for them.

Mikalai Statkevich's wife Maryna Adamovich said it in an interview with Belsat TV.

– Why is Mikalai Statkevich pressed? How does the pressure look like?

– To be honest, Mikalai has always been under pressure. He is treated especially cruelly. There were repeated attempts to break him down, make him repent and apply for a pardon. It's a sense of déjà vu after he returned back to the Shklou correctional facility after three years in prison. Mikalai was issued 8 warnings for violations just for one week, and got three sanctions.

He spent three days in a punishment cells and was transferred to a cell-type unit for two months. He was also deprived to the right to have both short-term and long-term visits as well as the right to receive food parcels.

As of Friday, five reports on violations remained unconsidered yet. It's hard to guess what sanctions will be imposed by prison staff.

– Do you think it is connected with the upcoming presidential elections?

– I don't rule it out, but I look broader in the context of the expected liberalisation and improvement of relations with the EU. Standing your ground is the cruel reality of our time.

– What does Mikalai say about the elections? What does he think and plan?

– Mikalai wrote much about it. He had an opportunity to express his views on the topic. He remains a consistent supporter of unity in conditions of the imitation of the real expression of will. In conditions of a threat of aggression from Russia, Mikalai thinks it's perhaps better to unite and say to the authorities: let's work together if the country's sovereignty is as important for you as it is important for us. It means that repressive legislative acts should be cancelled and a moratorium on the implementation of illegal amendments to the electoral legislation should be imposed. Further actions by opposition can depend on a reaction from the authorities. Either democratic forces take part in the campaign as equal members, or they choose protests if it becomes obvious that the authorities don't want to change themselves. Maybe they will choose a boycott.

Mikalai adheres to this position and thinks that the only decent stance is a demonstration of unity.

– How can democratic society of Belarus help Mikalai Statkevich, who has been behind bars for four years?

– There's the word “solidarity”. It costs little, but its value is high. Only solidarity can help. Mikalai Statkevich is not the only one who needs solidarity. I'd like to remind you that five people who were recognised as political prisoners remain behind bars. Any display of solidarity is important. It can be letters and telegrams to prison authorities. It can be leaflets with portraits of political prisoners, petitions demanding to stop their prosecution and joint statements. It can be postcards, telegrams and letters to political prisoners. I call on Belarusian society to do it. I count on it so much.