Andzhelika Borys: I do not believe in any liberalization or thaw in Belarus

The leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus believes that “a political order” is being performed against them.

As it has been reported, yesterday at Bruzgi border crossing the chairman of the Union of Poles in Belarus Myachyslau Yaskevich and the chairperson of the council of the UPB Andzhelika Borys were detained. All their notes and documents were copied at the border.

Andzhelika Borys tells about the incident at the border to charter97.org website.

- We were waited for at the border. When we arrived, my and Myachyslau’s passports were seized, and we were told to sit in the car. A border guard was standing near the car all the time, later another border guard came and our car was transported to a lock-up garage, where the control was taking place. They were interested in what we were carrying, and they were especially interested in our notes, documents and notebooks. Then we were taken to a separate room, our notebooks and all documents were seized and taken away for three hours. I think it was because of photocopying, as we were waiting for them for a long time.

- Were you detained because of especially active work recently?

- Yes, I believe it is connected to collection of signatures for amendments to the Education Code, related to schools with Polish language of education in Hrodna and Vaukavysk. In this connection we became more active certainly: for example, we buy books for schoolchildren.

- Do you believe that talks between Belarus and Poland could change the policy of the Belarusian authorities?

- In February 2010 we were deprived of the Polish House in Ivyanets. In March of the same year an agreement about small border movement was signed by Martynau and Sikorski in Warsaw. However, while this agreement was signed, me and Myachyslau Yaskevich and Andrzej Poczobut were summoned for interrogations.

I do not believe in any kind of liberalization or thaw in Belarus, as we do not trust this government. We remember the examples when during such talks, when Poland does not have a clear position, such incidents happen. The Foreign Affairs Ministry in Belarus is certainly one thing, and the KGB another. We know perfectly well how is behind the wheel in the country in reality. Agreements are signed by one people, and persecution and searches are held by others, and it is not always coordinated.

- How the events could evolve, what the next move of the authorities could be towards the Union of Poles in Belarus?

- We do not know how the situation might develop. We are certainly yet to be asked questions about our activities, the agreements which had been seized from me allegedly for expert examination. It’s a political order for sure. We all know where we live. We are going to react according to the circumstances.