‘Lukashenka Gave In To Poland’s Unprecedented Measures’

The pressure on the dictator must be increased.

The criminal case against the Head of the Union of Poles in Belarus Anżelika Borys was closed. What does this mean, and what can be done right now to release all political prisoners?

The website Charter97.org talked about this with activist of the European Belarus civil campaign, husband of political prisoner Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk Andrei Sharenda.

— The release of Anżelika Borys is precisely the effect of those sanctions that some call “non-working”. Poland took measures unprecedented for neighboring countries, before which the regime gave in. After all, the Poles have almost completely blocked the smuggling of Lukashenka's regime, including cigarettes.

Now there is only one border crossing on the Belarusian-Polish border, which can accept freight transport and there it undergoes very serious control. This hit the “purses of Lukashenka”, who earned a lot of money on the smuggling of goods. It can be said that the regime gave in to Poland's unprecedented measures.

As the husband of a political prisoner, I would like to urge the authorities of Poland and other countries not to stop, not to reduce the sanctions pressure, but only to increase it.

— What was the latest news from your wife Palina?

— The situation is very complicated. For more than three months there has been practically no news from her. The only thing is that a lawyer could visit Palina a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, the situation is such that the lawyer simply cannot give us the information that he would like, as well as ours to her.

We know for sure that Palina's health is deteriorating. Due to hypothermia, she developed pain in her back and spine. Also, her eyesight began to deteriorate. This is very disturbing news from Palina. We will do everything to ensure that she receives a medical package as soon as possible. Still, a long stay in inhuman conditions cannot but affect health.

The goal of any sanctions should be the release and full rehabilitation of all political prisoners. Not just individual, famous people.

After all, Lukashenka, by releasing Anżelika Borys, wanted to sell the idea that he was ready to free women. He's trying to create the illusion of loyalty. In fact, hundreds of women political prisoners are now in prisons in terrible conditions, and no other country will stand up for them.

Let me emphasize that only the strengthening of sanctions until the full release of political prisoners and their rehabilitation is of importance. Getting out of prison in today's Belarus does not mean anything. The person who was released is actually forced either to leave the country or to exist in semi-prison conditions in the form of supervision and restrictions on movement.

— Do you support the ultimatum that transit through Belarus should be completely stopped until all political prisoners are released?

— This is one of the steps that the West should take in the first place. We see that Poland took such strict measures to protect the Poles — it closed the border crossings. I am sure that if Poland cut off trade relations, closed the last cargo crossing, then Lukashenka would have no choice.

I call on Lithuania and Latvia to follow the example of Poland and close the loopholes, the “grey schemes” used by Lukashenka. Only a complete closure of the border for all trucks will be a really significant blow to Lukashenka. After this, he will be forced to release political prisoners.

— Lithuania is filing a lawsuit against Lukashenka at the International Court in the Hague for smuggling migrants. How important are such initiatives?

— It is important to understand that Lukashenka's regime is criminal. Two years ago, the migrant crisis did not arise spontaneously. He used it to put pressure on the EU countries. Dozens of people became innocent victims of this crisis. All of them are on Lukashenka's conscience.

These facts must be documented and taken to court so that later, when the regime falls, all those responsible are punished. We are talking about border guards who violated the oath, brought and transported people across the borders, special services, officials involved in these schemes, which are, in fact, human trafficking.

I am sure that not only Lukashenka, but all his henchmen will be brought to justice. No one can escape, cover their tracks. We live in the era of digital technologies, when any deed, action, signature finds its place in the archive. The time will come when these archives will be opened, everyone will receive what they deserve.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com