Paval Sevyarynets: Lives of political prisoners in danger

Belarusian authorities are defiantly using gangsters’ methods, viewing political prisoners as a painful point spot for pressuring the West.

Charter97.org website was told about that by the co-chairman of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, a former political prisoner Paval Sevyarynets.

- Today’s date is notable for Belarus for two sad events: a trial over a political prisoner Yury Rubtsou is underway, and news have arrived that another political prisoner, Mikalai Dzyadok, had to hurt himself in the colony in Horki. What do these facts mean, to your mind?

- Undoubtedly, it means that the Belarusian authorities do not ease their pressure on political prisoners. The regime views political prisoners as a painful point for influencing the West. First it was a bargaining chip for trade with Europe, and now it is exactly the sore spot which could be pressured, to make the West more cooperative. That’s why I do not exclude that all that is a campaign addressed to the West. And the message is: “Talk to us, take us as you find us, otherwise political prisoners and citizens with pro-European sentiments are to answer.” It’s a method of bandits, and what is happening to Yury Rubtsou, Mikalai Dzyadok, all that is an evidence of such an approach by the authorities.

- Participation of Belarus in the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga could be interpreted by the regime as a “signal” that the West could agree to a compromise in the issue of human rights defence in Belarus, couldn’t it?

- It’s a part of the general game. Lukashenka wants Europe to take us as they find him. He uses this bandit’s method defiantly, again and again. The West must take a strong and consistent stand on human right defence in Belarus, and put maximum pressure on the Belarusian regime with a vengeance. Otherwise it could have a fatal ending. If things have come to blood and a real threat to lives of political prisoners in Belarus, Europe should not turn a blind eye to it. If not, tomorrow this regime with the dictatorial practices, together with Putin’s tanks, could “knock on the door” of Europeans.

- In which way the civil society of Belarus could influence this situation from within?

- First of all, it is solidarity. According to the principle: “One for all, all for one.” Secondly, it is a maximum participation in the campaign of support to Mikalai Statkevich and other political prisoners, including the political part of this campaign, which demonstrates absurdity of the upcoming presidential “election.” Solidarity is the main answer to challenges of dictatorship. And the society should certainly solve the question of self-organization. As soon as political parties are not able to unite in the question of the “election”, and be in the lead in the society, self-organizing in all kind of forms is needed.

- Can an organized participation of Belarusians in the election help the cause of political prisoners’ release?

- A well-organised campaign of election boycott, in which political demands are made (first of them being a release of political prisoners), would at the same time result in changes. When there is a combined pressure on the regime in this issue, from inside and outside the country, when there is unity of protest forces inside Belarus, then the authorities free political prisoners. We know that by the example of 90ies and 2000ies. Usually such a combination of internal and external pressure, together with a high degree of solidarity, ended in release of people. But when there is no solidarity, as it is today, part of “politicians” intends to participate in the election and conduct a dialogue with the regime, the dictator is going to continue his trade in human lives and fates.