Pavel Seviarynets: Viasna Should Recognize "Patriots' Case" Figurants As Political Prisoners

Let’s face up the truth – not a "legal process" is taking place, but a grossly fabricated political put-up job.

One of the leaders of the organizing committee for the creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Pavel Seviarynets has stated it to Charter97.org.

– Is it possible to consider the Belarusian patriots, who are filed in the White Legion case, to be political prisoners?

– People, who are filed in the "patriots' case", are certainly political prisoners. This is similar to the situation with the Young Front members, who were arrested on this case, and then released without any explanations and apologies – it is an absolutely political case.

As evidenced by the rude "black PR" on BT, there is nothing behind this case, except for propaganda. And the worst thing is that this propaganda is oriented toward the Kremlin. Lukashenka shows Putin that he is "fighting" here with mythical "militants" who are ready to defend Belarus from the empire.

This case is so thinly veiled, that this is evident even in the propaganda SB articles and BT pieces. There are simply no questions left about it.

The people were taken, like in 1937, on the principle of at least some connections with the Belarusian national movement. At that, physically developed guys were picked up – there were no other criteria. And now absolutely innocent people are kept in prison and charged with a serious criminal offense.

Undoubtedly, these people are political prisoners. Undoubtedly, we need a massive campaign of solidarity with the detained guys. I support all relatives and activists who are fighting for the liberation of those who are filed in the "case of patriots".

– Why is the official recognition as political prisoners important? How much can this improve their situation?

The official recognition of these guys as political prisoners on the part of several human rights organizations of Belarus will present the Europeans with a challenge. Now European politicians continue, despite of everything, the so-called "dialogue" with Lukashenka. The negotiations of the regime with the International Monetary Fund are still on.

And in this situation, three dozen political prisoners, who are in jail for nothing, present the West with the fact of moral failure.

If those named in the "patriots' case" are officially recognized as political prisoners, this will force the Europeans to seek their release. The West will be able to lay down conditions for Lukashenka's regime. And now the regime is in a deep crisis because of a lack of money, and innocent detainees can just be saved. It is absolutely necessary to recognize them as political prisoners as soon as possible.

Let me remind you that many human rights structures and politicians have already recognized the defendants of the "patriots' case" as political prisoners. This is the forum "Freedom for Political Prisoners of Belarus", ex-judge of the Constitutional Court Mikhail Pastukhou, human rights activist Aleh Vouchak, and such well-known politicians as Andrei Sannikov, Uladzimir Niakliayeu, Mikalai Statkevich, Anatol Liabedzka, supporters of the Belarusian Christian Democracy.

Therefore, the only right attitude is to recognize the detained guys as political prisoners, to lay the challenge at Europe’s feet and to release the guys.

– Why does such a well-known human rights organization as Viasna refuse to do it? How would you comment on its position?

Today there will be a meeting with Viasna human rights defenders. I will try to convince them that this should be done as soon as possible. If the "problem" here is to get more information – certainly, we will provide this information. The detainees’ relatives have plenty of it, and there is a lot of it available to the public in the network as well.

One does not even have to get acquainted with the case materials to draw conclusions that it has been fabricated. The whole Belarus can see what kind of case this is. It's strange that human rights defenders may have some doubts.

I want to appeal to the Viasna lawyers and human rights defenders: you have to recognize the detainees on the "patriots' case" as political prisoners! It's as simple as black and white. Black always remains black, and white is always white. What other questions and clarifications can there be?

If you need more information – you have only to say it, in three days we will dig up all the information: from the parents of the arrested, on the network, from the lawyers. Let's do it quickly and let’s face up the truth – it’s not a "legal process" or a real "criminal case". This is an absolutely political case to the order of the Kremlin. The order, which the Belarusian authorities have executed blatantly and rusty. And it is just too evident.