Enira Branitskaya: It's trade in political prisoners

A former political prisoner is sure new prisoners of conscience may appear on the place of the released ones.

Enira Branitskaya, the head of Office for Disabled People's Rights NGO, comments on the release of Syarhei Kavalenka for Radio Svaboda.

“Of course, I am happy to hear he has been released, but I don't see a gesture of good will in this step. I am sure it is political trade. It's really terrible. People are in prison being used as trade items. It seems to have no end. The authorities will throw someone else into prison. Europe will bargain again. It's good that Europe thinks about people and their release, but the situation looks awful,” she says.

We remind that political prisoner Syarhei Kavalenka was released from a penal colony in Mahilou on the evening of September 26. Information about his release appeared this morning. Kavalenka was freed after he was forced to apply for a pardon.