Natallia Radzina: Regime Takes Revenge On Maryna Adamovich As She Fights For Her Husband

Mikalai Statkevich's wife is an example for the relatives of political prisoners.

More than 159 people have been detained throughout Belarus since January 23. Maryna Adamovich, the wife of political prisoner and leader of the Belarusian opposition Mikalai Statkevich, was arrested for 15 days.

Natallia Radzina, the Editor-in-Chief of Charter97.org, commented to Polish Radio on a new wave of repression:

— The arrest of Maryna Adamovich is explained by the fact that she did not give up and constantly demanded from the authorities any information about her husband - Mikalai Statkevich. Maryna was constantly filing complaints and petitions. She was constantly visiting the prison in the city of Hlybokae, where Mikalai is kept. She was constantly appealing to the Department of Corrections of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and demanding to provide her with information. More than eleven months have passed. There is no information about the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Mikalai Statkevich, there are no letters from him, he is not allowed to meet with a lawyer, he is not allowed to meet with his wife, and no calls allowed.

Natallia Radzina said that she had received disturbing reports about Mikalai Statkevich:

— It is known that he has serious health problems, Statkevich was sick with COVID-19 four times during his imprisonment. He is already 67 years old, he has serious heart problems. However, Maryna could not even give him necessary medicine. The parcels she sent were sent back to her. There are serious fears that Mikalai Statkevich could be dead, such information, among other things, reached me. It was pointed out that the authorities could conceal this information.

The Editor-in-Chief of Charter97.org believes that Maryna Adamovich is an example for relatives of the political prisoners:

— Maryna Adamovich was constantly looking for the truth. We even went to Brussels together and visited the European Parliament. She met with many MEPs, and we discussed the case of Mikalai Statkevich. As a result, many MEPs issued a statement demanding that the authorities let know where Statkevich is and what is happening to him.

I think that this is the revenge of the authorities for the actions by Maryna Adamovich, for the struggle for her husband.

Maryna Adamovich is the leader of the families of political prisoners, because she did not give up, was not afraid, was not silent, and continued to do everything possible in these difficult conditions.

By arresting her, the authorities are trying to intimidate the families of other prisoners of conscience so that they remain silent, do not fight for their loved ones, so that they do not give any information, neither to human rights defenders nor to journalists, and do not report on their loved ones.

The Editor-in-Chief of the Charter97.org website also said that the searches took place at those relatives of political prisoners who benefited from the funds:

— The regime wants the repressed to refuse all help from others, from human rights organizations and foundations. This is an attempt to intimidate people as much as possible, to deprive them of all opportunities to communicate with the outside world. It is also about not contacting journalists and human rights defenders abroad.

Natallia Radzina noted that Mikalai Statkevich is a real leader of the Belarusian opposition:

— He is a strong politician, officer and patriot. He spent more than 11 years in prison during Lukashenka's rule. It is clear that he is the personal enemy of dictator Lukashenka. Many years in prison and constant arrests did not break him down. When he came out of prison, he again called on people to take to the streets and fight, to resist. It is obvious that the authorities are trying to destroy him as an exceptionally strong opponent and personal enemy of Lukashenka.