Maryna Adamovich: Europeans are confused about whom to listen to in Belarus

The wife of political prisoner and ex-presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich says that Belarusians can unite without political leaders.

 “I wouldn’t like to comment on the statements made in Brussels,” Maryna Adamovich said, discussing whether political prisoners were refugees of a no-win situation or living goods used for trading more than two years after the events in the Square.

Euroradio: Ms. Maryna, two years has passed since the Square, some political prisoners have already been released and others are still in prison. What else has changed since then?

Maryna Adamovich: I was congratulated on Mikola’s approaching release in May 2012. That is why I do not believe any signals or promises anymore. I can only discuss real deeds. I think that Lukashenka has managed to win again despite all the games with the West and signals of possible changes. The signals were noticed more than a year ago. Europeans have lessened the intensity of their demands and are waiting for changes. And they are not the only ones – the Belarusian society is also waiting…

Euroradio: What is the reaction of the official Minsk? Is there any?

Maryna Adamovich: I can see that the European Union hopes that the Belarusian authorities will fulfil their promises and that the signals are true. The EU sanctions have not been expanded for 18 months. It has not happened although five of the 11 political prisoners were imprisoned. Such facts can turn any romantic into a realist.

Euroradio: You often go abroad. You meet major politicians. Does it give you any hope? Can you express what you would like to say?

Maryna Adamovich: Unfortunately, I mostly talk to representatives of the civil communities of the western countries. They cannot affect political relations with Belarus. The number of unfulfilled intentions of Belarusian organizations and politicians is so huge that Europeans are confused. Belarusians have failed to unite the opposition even in one of the issues…  Neither I nor you made Europe react to the violation of human rights in our country. It was Europe’s decision. Now it seems to me that the European Union is lost and does not know who to listen to. I am grateful to the West for sticking to its position regardless of the fact that Belarusians do not have any position.

Euroradio: Why don’t different Belarusian forces have a similar position as regards the problem of political prisoners? Does it testify to the prevalence of personal ambitions? Is the inability to reach an agreement our national characteristic?

Maryna Adamovich: I have stopped asking myself about it. I have accepted it. I think that all the reasons are true. And the main one is the absence of the desire to win, the lack of a programme needed to lead the democratic forces to victory. Nobody knows what the democratic forces are going to do.

Euroradio: Do average Belarusians know about the problem of political prisoners?

Maryna Adamovich: Belarusians are able to unite without any political leaders. I will never forget the wave of solidarity after the Square. People were queuing near the office of the BPF – they wanted to help the detained and their relatives. I will not forget Minskers’ reaction to the April 11 terrorist act. It differed from the reaction of Muscovites after the terrorist act in Domodedovo Airport.

People supported political prisoners in the summer of 2011 when they took part in “silent protest actions”... That is why I have a better opinion about the Belarusian society and it helps me in moments of depression... There is little information about political prisoners. I mean information that cannot be ignored or missed. People are often surprised when they find out that not all those who were detained after the Square are free. You should also say that there will be no economic assistance and the relations with the EU will not improve while there are political prisoners in Belarus.

Euroradio: There is also Moscow. It supports the official Minsk regardless of the presence or absence of political prisoners.

Maryna Adamovich: Yes, it directly affects us. This is the only strong support for the current situation despite of any temporary “family discord” between Minsk and Moscow. Unfortunately, our democratic forces are not working in the eastern direction. All petitions, “houses” and information centres are focused on the West and they open in the West.

Euroradio: Do you really think that human rights activists and politicians can work in the eastern direction? Is it possible?

Maryna Adamovich: It is possible and it is necessary despite the fact that their situation is starting to resemble ours. There are many Belarusians living in Russia – about a million people. There are guest workers and influential people among them. You cannot ignore them. I know that it is harder than working on the Internet or in Warsaw. But it must be done.

Euroradio: How much has your life changed in two years? You have become popular with the media.

Maryna Adamovich: I used to be a media person in my own field. I took part in the democratic movement. I was one of the founders of the Belarusian Collection of Books and worked in Viasna at the very beginning. It was not enough and I did not think about publicity. I tried to avoid it but then I understood that I would not be able to. I need to travel and to talk. Who will do it if I don’t?

Euroradio: It is time-consuming? Do you have time for dealing with political prisoners’ problems, for Mikola’s problems and for yourself?

Maryna Adamovich: We talked about it with the girls sometimes. I am busy all day long, I work at night... And I ask myself – what have I done? All my thoughts and actions are focused on one direction. The relatives of political prisoners united after the Square... We supported one another... The number of political prisoners is reducing and the authorities are starting to persecute other people. You cannot relax.

Euroradio: The political prisoners will be released sooner or later. Mikola Statkevich will also be released. What will you do when there are no political prisoners in our country?

 Maryna Adamovich: Thinking about it, I recall the description given to Mikola in Shklou colony. They wrote that he “had not improved his behaviour and was inclined to be a criminal after the release”. I do not know when he or the other guys will be released...

Let our dreams stay with us. They are pure and bright. We never parted with Mikola for more than a few days and we believe that we will be together soon.

Euroradio