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Eduard Lobau: I want to serve in army of free democratic Belarus

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Eduard Lobau: I want to serve in army of free democratic Belarus

Former political prisoner Eduard Lobau keeps his dream alive after four years in prison.

Activist Eduard Lobau, who was arrested ahead of a rally against the rigged results of the presidential elections, talked to charter97.org just after the release.

– Eduard, we congratulate you on the release! We understand that you are still shocked. But what do you feel?

– I try to come to my senses, though it's difficult. Everything is new. I don't quite understand everything. I've just taken a shower and I'm going to take a meal. I am happy that my mother is with me...

– Your mother was struggling for you bravely. What helped you to survive in the correctional facility? Four years is a very long term.

– I just said to myself at the very beginning that I would serve the entire 4-year term. Time runs faster and life becomes easier when you take this decision. I was offered to apply for a pardon three times, but I refused. My friends and family gave me moral support. Solidarity helped me.

– Returning to 18 December 2010, could you comment on you arrest? It was very mean.

– It was a provocation ahead of the rally. I didn't think they wanted to sentence me to four years. I thought 10-15 days in custody to prevent me from attending the rally would be enough. I didn't imagine the term would be so long.

– Most presidential candidates, their team members and journalists were detained the next day. Many were tortured in the KGB jail. How were you treated during the so called investigation?

– They treated me as they do normally in prison. Sometimes officers of the KGB and the counterintelligence service visited me...

I was taken to the detention centre in Akrestsin Street, then to Zhodzina, then to the remand jail in Valadarski Street. After that I was sent to correctional facility No. 22 Volchy Nory. I spent the rest of my term in the correctional facility.

– What are your impressions of the trial?

– I understood that the trial was just a formality. It's not a trial, it is a formal sitting. The judge didn't care about arguments, who was guilty and who was not. Everything was decided beforehand.

– Many political prisoners face ill-treatment in prisons, also from other inmates on the order of prison officers.

– I don't know what happens in other correctional facilities, but I didn't have it. I cannot say it was comfortable, but I didn't face special treatment from prison officers.

– Tell us about confinement conditions for those who don't attract “special attention” from the prison authorities.

– Of course, conditions are worse than at freedom or in European prisons that we can see on TV. It was hard. But I cannot compare. I didn't see it before. I have never been to other prisons.

– Prison is a severe school of life. Did it change you? What new traits did you get?

– I became a better judge of character.

– You have a dream before prison to join the military. Do you still want it?

– Yes, I still want to serve in the army. But in the army of free independent Belarus, not Lukashenka's Belarus. That was the reason why I didn't remain in the army under the contract.

– Other political prisoners are still behind bars. The echo of 19 December 2010 can still be heard. But opposition plans to run in the “presidential election”. Do you see any sense in it?

– I don't see sense in it now. Perhaps, they will get a legal opportunity to talk to people without fear of being detained and sent to a police station. But the outcome will be as usual.

– The Euromaidan protests took place and Russia in fact declared war on Ukraine when you were in prison. Do inmates receive information?

– They receive information that represents Russia's side, because we had only Russian and Belarusian channels in our unit. I think other units have the same TV channels.

We didn't get true information. We took everything as it was shown on TV.

– What are the moods in prison? What people think about Lukashenka?

– About 80 per cent have a negative attitude to Lukashenka.

– Many political prisoners say after release that many businessmen, officials and law-enforcement officers are behind bars. What people did you meet?

– Yes, I saw several businessmen. I also saw killers and drug dealers. There were different people.

– Have you been placed under preventive supervision?

– Yes, I cannot leave town without permission. I must be at home from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. I cannot leave the country. But I have all other rights.

– The released political prisoners who were placed under preventive supervision say they were warned against involvement in political activities, otherwise they can return to prison.

– They told me the same. It wasn't a warning, but they gave me to understand that I will go to prison again if I don't stop.

– What would you like to tell the people who were supporting you for four years, waiting for you and worrying about you?

– I'd like to thank everybody. It would have been more difficult to serve the term without their support. It becomes easier when you know that people support you and share your views.

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