Robert Tyszkiewicz: Members of Polish Sejm have unanimity on Belarusian issue

The Belarusian issue is often discussed in the Polish Parliament.

Robert Tyszkiewicz, the vice chairman on the Foreign Affairs Committee and head of the parliamentary group on Belarus, told the website palitviazni.info that MPs have a common position on Belarus, first of all on the issue to political prisoners. Polish MPs think they must be released and rehabilitated.

“People's solidarity even in small and, as one may think, insignificant things became more important for political prisoners. First of all it is support of the family and children of the political prisoner. Legal and financial aid. It's very important for a political prisoner, who is isolated in jail, to know that his family is not alone, his relatives are okay. This is perhaps the most important thing. Other main aspects include political solidarity and support. I mean different publications in press and street actions demanding to release political prisoners. In spite of isolation political prisoners receive information from outside that strengthen their spirit. The last aspect is international support. The pressure on the authorities demanding to free political prisoners. This is our Polish experience, but it a universal subject than can be applied to any country and any political prisoner, also in Belarus,” Robert Tyszkiewicz said.

The Polish MP said the Belarusian question was regularly raised in the Polish Sejm.

“We put all efforts to speak about it as often as possible. Of course, legislative acts and appeals appear more often in connection with all kinds of incidents that the Polish Sejm cannot ignore. It doesn't happen every day. We are working with a number of parties to gain a majority of votes and facilitate the work when taking decisions to help Belarusian civil society, in the first place, victims of political persecution. In general, the Committee applies efforts so that the problem of political prisoners won't be forgotten. Besides, we often talk about the situation of human rights with our foreign partners. We have recently held talks with representatives of the French parliament and engaged them into the problem of political prisoners in Belarus. These efforts are needed to make Europe use a common language and the same words when speaking against political persecution,” the Polish politician said.

According to Robert Tyszkiewicz, both the Polish Sejm and the Committee on Foreign Affairs include representatives of different political parties, who often have different views, but always share a common stance on Belarus.

“Our Committee members have unanimity on the Belarusian issue. Of course, we have different views on some details, but it doesn't hinder to take decisions. Members of the Sejm think there mustn't be political prisoners. The Sejm has a common opinion that prisoners of conscience in Belarus must be released and fully rehabilitated,” the politician said.