Uladzimir Matskevich: Anybody could be in the same situation political prisoners are now

As the EuroBelarus Information Service has earlier reported, recently ex-political prisoner Aliaksandr Malchanau was released from prison. However, the rumours about the forthcoming release of other political prisoners are for now just rumours. Besides, Andrei Gaidukou, recognized as a political prisoner by human rights fighters, was sentenced to a year and a half of a general regime colony a while ago.

What do these events say about? According to Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”, we can already state that “political prisoners in our country are part of the well thought-out and consistent policy of the regime. Belarusan regime uses political prisoners to put pressure on the opposition, civil society and the EU. And Lukashenka uses the map of political prisoners in his own interests”.

“Political prisoners are used in order to make it clear for the society that repressions and punishment are not dependent on the degree of their activity, guiltiness or some real danger. By example of political prisoners the regime demonstrates that anybody could be in the same situation the political prisoners are now and that the seriousness of repressions often depends on the political will of the authorities”, - Uladzimir Matskevich notes.

According to one of the widespread versions, the fate of the current political prisoners depends directly on behind-the-scenes talks as well as open negotiations between Minsk and Brussels. These talks also cover the issue of Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership program and its summit that is to take place this autumn in Vilnius. Moreover, from time to time the hopes that the amendments to the Justas Paleckis’ report, Miklos Haraszti’s consultations with the representatives of the Belarusan civil society and other efforts implemented by diplomats can forward the release of the political prisoners.

“There is only one precondition and one factor which can further the release of all political prisoners – civic solidarity. But, unfortunately, there are still no such signs”, - Uladzimir Matskevich highlights.