‘Recognition Patriots As Political Prisoners Appears Unpleasant For Authorities’

Only the solidarity of the society, human rights defenders and international organizations can help the detainees in the “patriots case”.

Political analyst Valer Karbalevich said this in an interview to Your Country’s Tomorrow.

— The law-enforcement authorities act by inertia, if they are given a task, they are doing their best to fulfill it, one way or another, trying to make something out of it, — political analyst Valer Karbalevich notes. – Speaking about the level of political leading elite, I have an impression that the authorities are contemplating, unsure of what to do with all this further on.

On the one hand, the threat of street protests didn’t go anywhere, as the reasons which caused them remain.

— And then again, a lot of money was invested in this propagandistic campaign: a big article for two and a half pages in SB, two incriminating movies on the central Belarusian television. And what now – release them all after all this? — the political analyst says. — On the other hand, there’s no point to continue it, as it’s an absolutely inane case based on nothing.

And then there is a session of the PA OSCE coming up, the process of "normalizing" the relations with the West did not stop although slowed down.

— I have an impression that the decision has not been taken yet, — Valer Karbalevich says. — They do release someone under a non-leave obligation. Probably, the authorities want to let the case drop but decided to wait for a while.

Valer Karbalevich believes that the detainees held in the remand prison under investigation could only count upon the support of the society, HR defenders, and pressure from the side of the Western structures.

— And Andrea Victorin, the EU ambassador to Belarus, recently noted that they were following this case. And the announcement of detainees as political prisoners is an unpleasant thing for the Belarusian authorities, " — the political scientist summarizes.

The HRC “Viasna” became aware of extension of preventive measures for two defendants in the “mass riots preparation” case – Andrei Dundukou and Uladzimir Fiodarau.

Andrei Dundukou, who was detained on March 21 and held in the remand prison #1, should remain in custody for four months more; Uladzimir Fiodarau, detained on March 29 and held in the KGB remand prison, remains in custody for another two months.

During the day similar information about Siarhei Strybulski, detained on March 21 and now held in the remand prison #1, appeared. His term of detention is extended for two months.