Miraslau Lazouski: I Was Surprised So Many People Offered Help

The patriot told how his life changed after the fabricated criminal case.

Patriot Miraslau Lazouski was detained in the middle of the street in his own car in the evening on March 21. He spent 102 days behind the bars, Radio Liberty reports.

— I could not even imagine that something like this is possible. I remember watching Lukashenka’s statements about the detention of a gang of militants, about weapons, on March 21 in the daytime. I could not even imagine it was a preview of what would happen to me. It was so unexpected for me. Everything — the detention, the release, the termination of the case. What was it?

Someone I know called me and said the termination of the case had been reported on the internet. It was a huge surprise. There were a lot of analytics, many political scientists spoke about the “mild variant” of the upcoming trial. However, no one predicted closure of the case. They said there might be probations. No one believed that such notorious case could be closed just like that. However, the miracle happened, thanks to everyone who facilitated it.

Honestly, I did not count how many days I spent behind the bars. They released me the last. It turns out that I stayed in prison the most. But a day or two, that’s not significant. I worked in the publishing house “Library” before detention, and I continue working there.

Thank God that the director was not fired during my imprisonment. I went out and continue to do what I did. However, in the beginning there was a cautious attitude from other people, clients. Work with living people. There was a certain feeling. But now everything is good. All old contacts are restored, everything is fine. None of those with whom I worked turned away from me. I got married after release. On September 8, we had a wedding with Sviatlana.

Our arrest, detention had a strong impact on relatives and friends. I proposed to Sviatlana long ago, even before March. She somehow hesitated, we put it off. And then it all happened, and we could not wait any longer.

The relations with relatives, with friends... if they changed after detention, then only for the better. I had many acquaintances with whom we rarely maintained a relationship, and after I got to jail, they mobilized.

I honestly did not think that so many people would offer help. The people got in touch, asked how they could help. Such things are never forgotten. The neighbors around the house had caution in the beginning, right after my release. Here, the terrorist. But now everything is fine. They say that from the very beginning they knew that I was good. I hope that it's over.

I do not wander around the streets looking back at night. I definitely will not leave Belarus. I do not plan this and do not even think about it. Am I afraid that they will come again? Nobody can guarantee anything."

"The case of patriots" was initiated on the eve of Freedom Day in March.

On March 21, Lukashenka stated that "dozens of militants" who "trained in armed camps" in Belarus and abroad and prepared provocations were arrested. Detentions began.

As a result, there were 35 people involved in the "case of patriots." Of them, 20 were also accused of being engaged in "illegal armed formation."

Acting and former officers of the border troops, the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Internal Troops were among the detainees. In the past, some of them were activists of the unregistered sports and patriotic club White Legion (it ceased its activities 15 years ago) and the official club Patriot for teenagers in Babruisk. Several more people – activists of the Young Front and the Belarusian Social Democratic party (People’s Assembly).

State television channels showed footage of searches and "seizure of weapons."

It was clarified that the case began with a letter from a certain "Frau A." addressed to Lukashenka: a German citizen with Belarusian roots reported on the preparations for "provocations" to take place in Minsk on March 25.

In the propagandistic movies and reports by the Belarusian Television, leader of the Belarusian National Congress Mikalai Statkevich, leaders of the “European Belarus” civil campaign Andrei Sannikov and Dzmitry Bandarenka, and Editor-in-Chief of the website Charter97.org Natallia Radzina were listed as “the main organizers”.

Although the case was resonant, it received few official comments.

In June, the patriots were gradually released from the remand prison under non-leave and non-disclosure obligations. From some, all allegations were lifted. However, the investigation continued.