Valery Shchukin: I Can't Stay in Bed When Someone Goes to the Square

A legendary human rights activist continues to participate in protests.

- Not so long ago I was already fined for the action held on May 1 in Minsk, Valery Aleksyeevich told Belarusian Partisan.

- And I just came to the Kastrychnitskaya Square. It was not cordoned off or blocked. As a free man in a free country I can be anywhere. And they say that I participated in an action! I do not deny that I really was there. But, excuse me, where is the evidence that I participated in the action?

That day Trade Unions planned a march of workers in Minsk. But due to my age and health condition I cannot participate in such parades! I can walk slowly...

Nevertheless, I was fined anyway. I tried to appeal it, but the city court upheld the decision - 230 rubles.

Now, it looks like I'm getting a new fine. I am accused that on July 3 during the action organized by Mikalai Statkevich I shouted out "Long live Belarus!" in the center of Minsk. Just imagine a French person is tried for "Vive la France!" And here it is an ordinary thing!

Let me remind you that no one was detained on July 3, as is known, the OSCE PA session began in Minsk in a couple of days. Nevertheless, the police made a list of 7 (!) participants in the rally, who, most likely, will be brought to justice. I was personally invited twice to a conversation in the Central Directorate of Internal Affairs, they trump up a case.

By the way, there were enough passers-by in the Square who observed the situation there. I was given a picture with my face. But I was standing behind everyone and had neither flags nor megaphones in my hands. My mouth is shut on the photo! I say again - I can go everywhere I want. People can approach me, we can talk, this usually happens. But this does not mean that we are participants in the action. The police, unfortunately, do not feel this difference...

Today I'm not a warrior at all in terms of physical qualities. But I can't stay in bed when someone goes to the Square. I can observe it!

Do policemen feel shame for their false testimony in courts? No. Sometimes it seems to me that they are capable of making a denunciation against their mother if they are ordered ... I am also a military man. But unlike modern policemen, I swore an oath to the people. And whom do they swear an oath to today?

By the way, when it was about the action of May 1, I asked to copy materials of the case, so that I could get thoroughly acquainted with all the papers and take legal advice. I was not allowed! I wrote a lot of complaints, and only the city court allowed me to make a photocopy!

I think it is done so that people have no opportunity to prove their innocence. It's no secret that when some critical moment comes, many important documents can be destroyed; the history knows many such examples. So I try to photograph everything. And judges are very afraid of this...

I'm not worried that instead of a fine, this time I can be arrested. I may hardly be imprisoned due to my age...

A fine ... Of course, I have to pay. Otherwise, they will pull the plug on me or come to distrain property in the apartment, but I live with my daughter...

I will never forget the way they into my house late at night. It was 11 years ago. I was undressed, even without panties and shoes, and dragged to the police department, surrounded by 20 people in uniform, and beaten on heels so that there would be no marks. I took much time for me to recover then...

By the way, three months after the detention on Freedom Day I was not good, even after a treatment in a hospital! Therefore, I will definitely pay the fine. I will not starve to death, but... It's just a pity to give this money for nothing! It would be better if I bought gifts to grandsons and great-grandsons!