Zmitser Bandarenka: NKVD Foot Wraps Could Not Be Hidden Under Expensive Western Suit

“The informational war”, as Shunevich called it, means that the Belarusian nation actively resist the NKVD methods.

It was said in the interview to charter97.org by the coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign Zmitser Bandarenka, who commented on the statement by the head of the Interior Affairs Ministry Ihar Shunevich that “an informational war” had been waged on the police.

– As a person who had first-hand experience of Ihar Shunevich and his subordinates’ methods of “work” after the Square in 2010, what is our evaluation of this statement by the minister?

– It is impossible to imagine that at any national holiday of Germany a person in SS or Gestapo uniform could suddenly appear near Angela Merkel.

But during the military parade Interior Affairs Minister Shunevich stood next to the formal leader of the country wearing a uniform of the NKVD – a structure that had killed much more citizens of own country, then Gestapo. And as it is known from historic documents, in the period of friendship between Stalin and Hitler, they taught Gestapo members methods of fighting against own population.

Secondly, when such a person as Shunevich, who has moved up through the ranks from a colonel to become a general lieutenant within the last five years, says about “an informational war” against his agency – it is a compliment to the Belarusian nation, Belarusian journalists and Belarusian civil society, who resist the methods of the NKVD – Internal Affairs Ministry headed by Shunevich.

It means that now people are defending their rights more actively, show their solidarity as citizens, and overcome fear, criticizing the methods of Belarusian special services, including the Internal Affairs Ministry.

– In his statement Shunevich threatened by court actions against journalists. To your mind, could it mean another cycle of crackdown on independent mass media?

– More likely it is an attempt not to spoil the operation on cajoling Western loans. It should look like that for Western politicians: we are stifling our opposition and journalists by our methods, and you should not interfere in our affairs.

I would like to say that Minister Shunevich is a candidate for the trial by the Hague tribunal, as this man had taken part in organizing tortures of presidential candidates and their election staffers in 2010 – 1011. This man knew that in the KGB prison “Amerikanka” illegal actions which could be characterized as tortures, were taking place.

One example: internal regulations were removed from all cells, and all prisoners were informed that “the law does not reach your cases anymore.” And Shunevich himself, remaining incognito, in most cases participated in tortures and interrogations, including the ones of women in the night time. He didn’t even present himself.

As the sanctions have been lifted from officials now, and most blacklisted persons were exactly representatives of power ministries, including the Corrections department, headed by Shunevich now, persons from these agencies have cheered up and try to pretend to be civilized people. Meanwhile, the Corrections department is a network of prisons and concentration camps, covering the entire Belarus.

But it is impossible to conceal NKVD foot wraps under an expensive Western suit – they are still sticking out like a sore thumb.