Kasya Salauyova: “One cannot have any fear if you love Belarus” 21

On March 8 court in Polatsk sentenced Kasya Salauyova to a fine of 1 mln 750 thousand rubles. She was found guilty of participation in an unregistered organization “Young Front”. The maximum penalty for such charges is 2 years of imprisonment. After pronouncement of the sentence Kasya Salauyova answered questions of Radio Svaboda:

-- Where you afraid to be sentenced to two years of imprisonment?

- No, I wasn’t. I believe that at the moment the regime cannot risk and put a girl behind the bars and thus rupturing all ties with the West. The economic situation in our country is not very well now, in order to take such a risk and responsibility.

-- Did you have any fear when you came to the trial?

- What fear you can have if you love Belarus?! When you are sure that you are on the right path, there cannot be any fear or anxiousness. I was just worrying that a lot of people would come, and all of them would listen to me. I do not like to make speeches very much.

-- What was the main idea of your speech in the court?

- I said that the Young Front is an unregistered organization indeed, but the Young Front members had made several attempts to register. And it wasn’t their intention for the situation to be that way. I told that an organization having Christian principles cannot have a destructive nature.

-- And what was your parent’s reaction to the trial over you? What have they told to you?

- I do not think they were seriously distressed. They have been teaching me all the time, from childhood, that the main thing is to preserve human dignity. It is more valuable than one’s life.

-- First your parents couldn’t get to the court. Have you noticed that?

- Yes, they haven’t been allowed to enter first. A few of us quickly entered a small court room, though we had been promised before that the court room would be large. After that policemen stood near the entrance and even my parents were not allowed to enter, as well as the US diplomat. They entered later.

-- What has impressed you most during the trial?

- I was shocked. How could it be?! Materials that had no relation at all to the Young Front organization were presented in the case mostly. I mean different newspapers and notes in a notebook: “I’ll do anything I can to ruin this regime”. I was also asked what kind of regime I meant; what and in which way I wanted to ruin. I said that that particular note had no bearing to the Young Front. Many things had been dragged in. Even a Catholic newspaper “Memory” allegedly was evidence against me. I was tried even not for participation in an unregistered organization, but simply for having an active citizenship.

-- How do you think, why the trial finished so quickly?

- Probably they had decided on the verdict beforehand.

You should be tired. What have made you tired most today?

- I was already tired when I came to the trial. I wanted to sleep, I wanted to eat. There were many questions about those newspapers, and I didn’t want to answer them very much, as they had no bearing to the case. I told about that the prosecutor, the judge… But they won’t listen.

-- Have you felt support of like-minded people?

- In fact, people had compassion with me. After a break, when we entered the court room, we heard voices: “Long live Belarus!”, “Power to the people! Freedom to the young!” and all such things.

-- What’s the first thing you will do after the court?

- With the help of other members of the organization we’ll bring together the Young Front in Vitsebsk region, in order to define our strategy. We can form a steering committee of the Young Front and plan our activities. Besides, we’ll visit regions. And we’ll file an appeal against the decision of the court to Vitsebsk regional court.

A month ago Katsyaryna Salauyova turned 20. And in January 2008 the girl was expelled from Polatsk state university. She was a second year student of History and Philology faculty.

Kasya Salauyova told to journalist: “I am a believer, and I love my Motherland greatly”. She became a Young Front activist, as she shares objectives of the organization, faith to God and love to Belarus.

It is the second criminal case against the activist. In the beginning of 2008 she was found guilty of painting political graffiti. After Freedom Day Kasya Salauyova was sentenced to 5 days of arrest for participation in an unsanctioned rally.