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Freed Belarusian campaigner vows to fight for release of all political prisoners Freed Belarusian campaigner vows to fight for release of all political prisoners
(2 months later)
Belarusian dissident Ales Bialliatski, who was released at the weekend after three years in jail, has vowed to remain in Belarus and continue the fight for human rights. He spoke at a press conference in Minsk yesterday: Belarusian dissident Ales Bialliatski, who was released at the weekend after three years in jail, has vowed to remain in Belarus and continue the fight for human rights. He spoke at a press conference in Minsk yesterday:
We must be a country without political prisonersWe must be a country without political prisoners
“I hope my release is only the beginning and that other political “I hope my release is only the beginning and that other political prisoners will also be free. I call on the Belarusian authorities not to stop with my release. This does not make the situation any better. We must be a country without political prisoners. And we are quite close to that.
prisoners will also be free. I call on the Belarusian authorities not to stop with my release. This "It is enough to release those seven people left and impose a moratorium, announce a goodwill towards civil society and people of alternative views.
does not make the situation any better. We must be a country without “We are not in a free society and my release does not give me great pleasure. Three years have passed and I am back to where I started. What will happen tomorrow is unclear. The aims of human rights organisations stay the same.”
political prisoners. And we are quite close to that.
"It is enough to
release those seven people left and impose a moratorium, announce a
goodwill towards civil society and people of alternative views.
“We are not in a free society and my release does not give me great pleasure. Three years have passed and I am back to where
I started. What will happen tomorrow is unclear. The aims of human
rights organisations stay the same.”
How do you feel about improving relations between Minsk and the EU?How do you feel about improving relations between Minsk and the EU?
"The first thing to demand is the release of political prisoners. Any "The first thing to demand is the release of political prisoners. Any talks about improving situation may come only after their release. We should not allow these double standards whereby we have political prisoners (while talking to the EU) – like it is in Azerbaijan, where opposition leaders are imprisoned while (President Ilham) Aliyev travels around Europe greeting everyone. We should make this a zone without political prisoners.
talks about improving situation may come only after their release. We "When we get it, the authorities will realise that it is beneficial for them, both politically and economically, not to have political prisoners. Unless this happens, there can be no progress.
should not allow these double standards whereby we have "If there is even one man behind bars, it means the scenario of 2010 (when there were widespread protests against the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko amid claims that the polls were rigged) will be repeated. Another 100 people will end up behind bars. Then we'll have again another championship – and we'll have some misunderstandable detentions, ridiculous administrative reports for cursing. We should not go down the road of unlawfulness. We should try to build up something on legal grounds so as not to play into the hands of the authorities.”
political prisoners (while talking to the EU) – like it is in Azerbaijan, where opposition leaders are imprisoned while (President Ilham) Aliyev travels around Europe greeting
everyone. We should make this a zone without political prisoners.
"When we get it, the authorities will
realise that it is beneficial for them, both politically and economically, not to have political prisoners.
Unless this happens, there can be no progress.
"If there is even one man behind bars, it means the
scenario of 2010 (when there were widespread protests against the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko amid claims that the polls were rigged) will be repeated. Another 100 people will end up behind bars. Then we'll have again another
championship – and we'll have some misunderstandable detentions,
ridiculous administrative reports for cursing. We should not go down the road of unlawfulness. We should try to build up something on legal grounds so as not to
play into the hands of the authorities.”
Are you going to stay in Belarus?Are you going to stay in Belarus?
“I am not going to leave. I feel comfortable here. Even in the zone, I “I am not going to leave. I feel comfortable here. Even in the zone, I wrote about it in my letters, I felt quite comfortable because my people surrounded me. The atmosphere of the Belarusian society is important for me – the way it is.”
wrote about it in my letters, I felt quite comfortable because my Are Ukraine-style protests possible in Belarus?
people surrounded me. The atmosphere of the Belarusian society is "Anything is possible here. Another thing is whether the society is ready for the changes that are necessary. A lot depends on whether the authorities are ready for such changes. To transform the situation and the society and keep up with the world around us.
important for me – the way it is.” "We do not live in an isolated island. The world is changing, and we should change too. We cannot be preserved in a can for 20-30 years.
Are Ukraine-style protests possible in Belarus?
"Anything is possible here. Another thing is whether the society is
ready for the changes that are necessary. A lot depends on whether the
authorities are ready for such changes. To transform the situation and
the society and keep up with the world around us.
"We do not live in an
isolated island. The world is changing, and we should change too. We
cannot be preserved in a can for 20-30 years.
I would like the changes to take place in a slow and evolutionary mannerI would like the changes to take place in a slow and evolutionary manner
"I would like the changes "I would like the changes to take place in a slow and evolutionary manner. Because sharp changes and crisis are costly. As a human rights defender, I stick to the principle that we need a mass civil standing, peaceful civil resistance which would lead to changes in the society.
to take place in a slow and evolutionary manner. Because sharp changes "And this is the way which makes changes irreversible. Then there can be no rollbacks. And for this purpose we all should work, and not one year, and pretty much.”
and crisis are costly. As a human rights defender, I stick
to the principle that we need a mass civil standing, peaceful civil
resistance which would lead to changes in the society.
"And this is the way which makes changes irreversible. Then there can
be no rollbacks. And for this purpose we all should work, and not one
year, and pretty much.”
What were conditions like in prison?What were conditions like in prison?
If somebody greets you, or talks to you about football or weather, the next day he is taken awayIf somebody greets you, or talks to you about football or weather, the next day he is taken away
"Conditions for political prisoners are clear; this is not only "Conditions for political prisoners are clear; this is not only about me, but all the others. Political prisoners are held in isolation from other prisoners. Nobody talks to you. They keep 3m away from you. Because if somebody greets you, or talks to you about football or weather, the next day he is taken away. This situation of isolation from other prisoners lasted until the very last minute.”
about me, but all the others. Political prisoners are held in isolation from other prisoners.
Nobody talks to you. They keep 3m
away from you. Because if somebody greets you, or talks to you about
football or weather, the next day he is taken away. This situation of isolation from other prisoners lasted until the very last minute.”
What are you going to do next?What are you going to do next?
“I will keep doing human rights work to the extent that “I will keep doing human rights work to the extent that I can. Belarusian human rights defenders have limited possibilities, in particular for Viasna (his peace movement), which is still unregistered. The problem of being able to work legally is really acute.
I can. Belarusian human rights defenders have limited possibilities, in "I am vice-president of the International Human Rights Federation, and I will keep on work at the international level both on the Belarusian issues and other issues existent in the region. We should not forget what's happening around us because it influences the situation in Belarus. And this will be my major work. I will keep on my writing.”
particular for Viasna (his peace movement), which is still unregistered. The problem of being able to work legally is really acute.
"I am vice-president of the International
Human Rights Federation, and I will keep on work at the international
level both on the Belarusian issues and other issues existent in the
region. We should not
forget what's happening around us because it influences the situation in
Belarus. And this will be my major work. I will keep on my writing.”