Yury Zakharenka’s Daughter: Kind, Fair Belarusian People, Hang in There!

The revolution will win.

Police Academy graduate Elena Zakharenka, daughter of the missing former Interior Minister Yury Zakharenka, gave an interview to Radio Svaboda. Elena Zakharenka calls peaceful protesters heroes and waits for the trial of those who ordered and executed the kidnappings and murders of Zakharenka, Krasouski, Hanchar and Zavadski.

"My hero is you"

- What does your family feel when following the developments in Belarus in recent months?

- We have a strong feeling of anxiety and pride. I hope justice will reign, and the criminal will face the law. They managed to destroy the opposition leaders in the 1990s, but they failed to destroy the very idea. Even then, a shadow government was established. The military followed Zakharenka; the people followed Karpenka. When my father took part in rallies back in those years, when he was no longer a minister. The rallies were also large-scale. The policemen parted, and he could walk freely to Government House. Lukashenka was increasingly concerned about my father's authority.

- You are a former police officer, a graduate of the Police Academy and daughter of a former interior minister. How do you assess the activity of people in black, olive on the streets of Belarusian cities and towns?

- This is banditry. It is a real junta. A police officer must introduce himself, report the offence and then warn an offender. They do not realize justice for their inhuman attitude towards people will overtake them. It appeared during the stay of citizen Aliaksandr Lukashenka in power. After my father's resignation, the personnel was trained in the garages. They saw how to beat the protesters with batons, leaving no marks. The staff received bonuses for dispersing demonstrators. These were not the events of recent years. The punitive apparatus had been forming for decades. Let God judge them.

I remember as a child sitting in the car with my father, he wondered what books I had read and who my hero was. I told him about the books and said: "My hero is you". He smiled. Children always remember such warm memories. How will chasteners tell their children about their "heroism"? What trace will they leave in the history of their country?

- What do you think your father's reaction could be to violence in Belarus?

- All his life he could not stand injustice. He used to be a leader. He longed for contributing to the development of society, so he could not mutate and kneel before the existing power. It was his nature. He always wanted to serve the law, not some individuals. No one dared to treat people like that when he was in charge.

I remember when a drunk man fell on the rails, a train was approaching, all people stepped aside and looked with horror at what was happening. My father jumped on the rails and saved the man right in front of the train. It was his nature - if not me, who.

"Sooner or later victory will reign"

- Do you believe in the victory of the Belarusian peaceful revolution?

- I hope, sooner or later, the victory will come. I am surprised that some Belarusians sit down at the negotiating table. With whom? Have you asked the people most affected by the regime or the mothers who could not bury their children? Have you asked those who have been forced to live in a foreign country for so many years? Have you asked the demonstrators or those who have lost loved ones? You have no right to betray us and make a deal. Kind, fair Belarusian people, hang in there. Belarus deserves to be honoured and independent.

- Do you have a feeling that there will soon be a real movement in the cases of the missing and the organizers and executors will face the law?

- It will never happen as long as Lukashenka is in power. Real witnesses will appear, a real trial will begin only after the change of power.

- What would you say to the people who are now taking to the streets knowing that they may be detained, beaten, maimed?

- They are heroes. I hope that after some time something will change in Belarus.