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Paval Seviarynets: If Sanctions Lifted, Lukashenka Is Going To Take Hostages Again

Paval Seviarynets: If Sanctions Lifted, Lukashenka Is Going To Take Hostages Again
PAVAL SEVIARYNETS
PHOTO: CHARTER97.ORG

The regime should not be allowed to feel impunity.

It has been said in an interview to palitviazni.info by the co-chairman of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party Paval Seviarynets, as he commented on the words of the UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus Miklós Haraszti that since the moment of holding the “elections” in October 2015 no changes had taken place in the grim human rights situation in Belarus.

– In reality, we already have dozens of political prisoners, – Paval Seviarynets said. – They are those who in a number of cases are still under supervision, who had lost job and health. Others see the situation and think: allegedly, a person had been involved in politics, was punished for that, his life is ruined, so why should we engaged in it? So rehabilitation of political prisoners is undoubtedly a requirement of fairness. And this demand is to persist as long as the current regime is concerned.

However, it is hardly believable that the regime could agree for rehabilitation of the former political prisoners. It is even hard to imagine. As long as it exists, the level of fear in the society is to be maintained.

– Does the issue of rehabilitation concern you personally?

– First of all, I would like to say that from the start I knew what risk I am taking. Struggle does not bring comfort. If you are struggling, you should be ready for difficulties. But I know people, for whom the question of rehabilitation is a very serious problem. And I know that rehabilitation is rather a problem of the national scale, not a personal one.

– To your mind, is political prisoners’ rehabilitation is a topic of interest for the West today? Will they bring up this concern as actively, as the issue of political prisoners’ release?

– I do not think so. Now, when the solution of the “Belarusian question” is at stake, European officials are going to be ruled by completely different considerations. Pragmatism of certain politicians is seen in this case. A number of foreign affairs ministers of the European Union have already stated that they are in favour of lifting the sanctions against Belarus, though, as the UN Special Rapporteur noted, nothing has fundamentally changed in the human rights situation. Journalists are beaten, criminal cases on political motives are conducted, dissenters are persecuted, and people are fined for participation in peaceful protest rallies… In a word, almost nothing has changes, but Europeans accept cooperation with the Belarusian regime out of geopolitical and pragmatic considerations. And the question of rehabilitation is not studied at all, as it seems to me. I have not even heard this demand from Europeans over the last few months. As for Miklós Haraszti, he was one of the few who raised this question.

– So will the West heed the words of the UN Special Rapporteur?

– His words have force undoubtedly, but concrete performers are deciding everything in Europe now. And now, as far as I know, two lines exist. One part of people is in favour of lifting sanctions against Belarus, despite the fact that the official Minsk does not move in the direction of democratic changes. The second is in favour of freezing sanctions to be continued. And it seems to me that as long as there are more people who are in favour of lifting the sanctions so far. To my mind, if it is done, the authorities are to feel their impunity, and the practice of taking hostages, political prisoners, could return.

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