Volha Nikalaichyk: Lukashenka And His Gang Will Account For ‘Patriots’ Case’

The defendants in the “White Legion” case should be recognized political prisoners as soon as possible.

Civil activist and director Volha Nikalaichyk has told this in an interview to the Charter97.org.

- How do you assess the case of the “White Legion”, is it politically motivated?

- Undoubtedly this is a political case, it reminds of 1937 and Stalin's repressions. The case is aimed against very worthy people, educated, intelligent, who have done a lot for their country. Any civilized country would be proud of such citizens. In our country, where a gang is at power, headed by a dictator with psychoses, these people are behind the bars. Now we must show maximum civil and human solidarity in order to convey to the Belarusian society that these people are heroes. The authorities will not escape punishment and will answer in compliance with all the norms of the international law.

- Will recognition of the heroes as political prisoners help them?

- If you look at it formally, Lukashenka himself knows that these are political prisoners, but this would be a clear signal for the West, which would help to impose sanctions against the criminal regime of the dictator. The status is necessary for the European countries and the whole world to understand what is happening in Belarus.

People are behind the bars, but they are not guilty of anything. From the very beginning I thought that this was a political case, I think that all human rights organizations, "Amnesty International" - all should recognize the defendants in this case as political prisoners. This will be an occasion for Lukashenka, with his bandit gang, to answer for their crimes. I repeat: it is a signal for the West. Recognition of the defendants in the “White Legion” case as political prisoners would pin the dictator to the wall, he will have to explain why he has so many political prisoners in the country.