Maryna Adamovich: It is shameful to drop curtseys to Lukashenka

The wife of a political prisoner Mikalaj Statkievich considers Paletskis’ recommendations his personal opinion and encourages to treat them respectively.

Maryna Adamovich stated that in an interview to the charter97.org web-site when commenting on the suggestions of the European Parliament delegation’s reporter on Belarus.

“If Mr Justas Paletskis was a private individual, then God would be his judge. But, unfortunately, these recommendations have been made for official bodies of the European Union. In my view, they are a step aside from the basic principles of the existence of the EU: democratic values, rule of law and respect to human rights. Vague and misty wording, which provides for the suspension of the sanctions in order to speak with Lukashenka, contradict the whole policy, the EU has been applying to our country in recent years. It looks Ostap Bender-like: money in the morning – chairs in the evening. It is unpleasant to observe same people dropping a brick once again. Having ton reached any positive result, having not achieved the fulfillment of any requirement, which are absolutely legal and based on international agreements signed by Minsk, it is untimely and shameful to drop curtseys to the Belarusian authorities. It is obvious that by this means – by the means of carrots as opposed to sticks – it is impossible to achieve democracy“, - Maryna Adamovich stated.

Mikalaj Statkievich’s spouse does not agree with the opinion of the European Parliament delegation’s reporter that the situation has improved in Belarus last year.

“I was deeply surprised by Paletskis’ statement on the improvement of the human rights situation in 2012. Even this year there are enough illustrations, telling the opposite. After the brutal crackdown on civil society the authorities have taken up independent journalists – the recent detentions are the best confirmation. That is why I do not see a single sign of the improvement of the human rights situation in our country. I want to remind Mr Paletskis that out of 11 people, whom the EU recognizes as political prisoners, five are in custody. This is the toughest punishment regime. I hope that the European Parliament will consider these recommendations as a personal opinion of the author and will not forget its own decisions, taken earlier”, - she said.