Mikalai Statkevich Revoked a Driving License

The former political prisoner and candidate for the presidency Mikalai Statkevich is revoked a driving license of failure to pay fines for participation in unauthorized protest actions.

Leninski District Court of Minsk has suspended the driving license, the decision was obtained by the politician on April 27.

"Formally, the decision is legal: my license can be revoked for failure to pay fines, as well as I cannot leave abroad and may be revoked the license of hunter or fisherman. But I consider fines illegal. I did not violate anything," Mikalai Statkevich stated to BelaPAN.

Revocation of the driving license he considers the element of pressure. Earlier, his mobile phone was shut off. "I have 10 fines. 50% of my military pension (instead of 20%) covers three of them, and they try to make me pay the others," the politician said.

Statkevich believes that the revocation of the driving license has another objective: "I live in a private sector and have to go home through park and wastelands. Perhaps, they may develop the way how to neutralize me. It is easier to catch you when you go on foot. It is harder to make you leave the car." Nevertheless, the politician is not going to hire a driver, as well as to ask his wife to give him a lift.

According to Statkevich, after five years spent in prison he has no savings and the government should understand it. "Of course, there is people's solidarity, and it is possible to raise funds, but I do not want it. This is my personal position", he stressed.