Mikalai Statkevich to western politicians: Don't betray your values

Lukashenka has always said that democracy is stupidity and nonsense.

Mikalai Statkevich, a former political prisoner and 2010 presidential candidate, said it in an interview with Polskie Radio.

– You spent almost 5 years in prison as an opponent of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Why did you serve such a long term? It is said in Belarus that Aliaksandr Lukashenka fears you.

– This time I spent four years and eight months in prison. If you add six months of administrative arrests and two years of restriction of liberty and a term in the pre-trial detention facility, it gives more than seven years in different detention facilities. This is a rather long term. But what can we do if we live in such a country?

I feel that Aliaksandr Lukashenka fears me. I don't know why. Maybe because I don't fear him. I think Aliaksandr Lukashenka fears those who doesn't tremble at him.

– Aliaksandr Lukashenka finally decided to release political prisoners. Why did he do it, in your view?

– I think the main reasons for this step are economic ones. Aliaksandr Lukashenka wants the “elections” to be recognised as honest to have an opportunity to apply to the West for new loans and avoid reforms.

He doesn't need reforms. On the contrary, he wants to avoid them. The economic situation in Belarus is very difficult. The country's main donor – Russia – can't increase its subsidies, which are already huge. They are enormous, reaching 20% of GDP. So, Aliaksandr Lukashenka is looking for another source of income. The release of political prisoners was a forced step dictated by circumstances.

So, when he learnt that I wasn't going to give up, that I wasn't ill and had no plans to die, he had to release me.

– What can you say about the upcoming elections? Your initiative group wasn't registered.

– They released me the next day after the registration of “candidates” for the presidential “elections” was closed.

– Would you like to become the president?

– Frankly speaking, it will be very hard unpleasant work to be the president after Aliaksandr Lukashenka. You will have to rebuild the kolkhoz that Aliaksandr Lukashenka turned our country into. Economic problems will inevitably arouse. You will have to work 25 hours a day.

I am not interested in this position, and I don't have any personal ambitions. Be sure that they are in the last place. What matters is my country, Belarus. I want it to be independent, free, successful and Belarusian. This is the most important thing.

I have no choice now. I have to begin to do something, because I feel I am the focus of attention of the active part of Belarusians. A part of society associates their hopes with me. These people don't believe everyone. This is huge responsibility. So, I have no other choice. I must continue my struggle.

If I fear, it would be a proof for these people that there are no values and ideals, that they have to do their work, enjoy life or leave the country, and so on.

When I was released, when they [prison officers] saw me off to the bus station, I realised the situation and the new turn of fate. I was happy to be free again, but I also was sad because I understood I wouldn't have an opportunity to have a rest, I would have to deal with may things at once. Nevertheless, my wife and me found a week and went on holidays. I have returned to work now.

– Some EU officials said after the release of political prisoners that relations with Belarus may be improved, depending on conditions of holding the “elections”.

– As a rule, final voting reports are rigged instead of ballot papers. Commissions don't count ballot papers, and observers are not allowed to watch the vote counting procedure. The head of the election commission, which members are in fact appointed by Aliaksandr Lukashenka, fills the final voting report with the data he receives “from above”.

This year's “elections” are special, because the very content of ballot papers was rigged. Besides Lukashenka himself, they will contain only sham candidates and his fake “opponents”. Opposition de facto doesn't have a single candidate. I don't know what colleagues from Western Europe are going to analyse and forecast here. We don't have “elections”. We can say that they already were rigged. For example, I was held in prison and was deprived of the opportunity to take part in the race.

– What advice can you give to western politicians? What should they do in this situation?

– They should adhere to the principled position and don't give up their values. This is the main thing. I see that some of them are ready to betray their ideals for the sake of geopolitical games.

Some would like to show the people of Belarus that values cost nothing, that they can be traded. Don't do it. Lukashenka has always said that democracy and freedom don't exist, that they are stupidity and nonsense.

But our lives show the contrary! Remember it. Don't help Lukashenka. Do not betray values.