Activist Andrei Sharenda Tells How He Managed To Escape From House Arrest, Flee Belarus

An exclusive interview.

It became known yesterday that the European Belarus activist Andrei Sharenda left Belarus. The political prisoner contacted the website Charter97.org, and told how he managed to escape from house arrest and cross the border.

- My story begins in March. I was warned that a criminal case was opened against me under Article 368 - this is "an insult to Lukashenka". Then I was searched and nothing was heard about this case until May 30.

On May 30, I was leaving the pool in Brest and I was met by police officers, put in a car and taken to the Investigatory Committee. There, without any explanations, they immediately pulled out a paper that I was already a suspect under Article 368. After another 15 minutes I was simply taken out into the corridor and given a second paper that I was already officially charged, but under a completely different article.

I was accused of "slander against the state system", and specifically against the dictator Lukashenka. This is the second part, which is allegedly associated with another more serious crime - terrorism. The reason for this falsified case was an article where I allegedly called Lukashenka a terrorist. Only the fact that I called him that way was regarded as an "act of terrorism."

- How long a term did you face under this article?

- Up to five years. However, the whole absurdity of the situation is that after the incident with the plane, half of the heads of European states and members of the European Parliament may be involved under this article. It became clear to the whole world that Lukashenka is really a terrorist and a murderer. This is what European politicians spoke about.

Then, in violation of all norms, they again took me to the office under escort, and after half an hour the case, which consisted of several dozen pages, was presented to me for review. I refused to testify. The last paper they showed me was the decision that I would be under house arrest.

I was prohibited from making phone calls, contacts via messengers. All this time, while I was under house arrest, they did not check on me, but the police were constantly on duty near the house. They made sure that I did not leave the house.

It was clear that they were in a great hurry. On June 1, the case was transferred to the prosecutor's office, and a week later - already in court. Then a hearing was announced, which, of course, I was not going to attend. There are no fair trials in Belarus, there are only fakes. There is nothing to prove there, and the result is known in advance. Attending them plays into the hands of the regime.

The only thing that kept me in Belarus was the opportunity to meet my wife Palina. I managed to meet with her after her verdict was announced.

- How is she holding on?

- She is a real fighter, and she sends everyone her best regards. Her message remains the same: you cannot negotiate with a terrorist, dictator and murderer. It was for these words that I was threatened with five years in prison, but I repeat them again, because this is a fact that cannot be kept silent.

With the help of some people, I managed to escape from house arrest and went underground.

- How long did you have to hide like this?

- About a week. It took time to get to the Lithuanian border.

I want to express my deep gratitude to those people who helped me, helped other Belarusians. This is a huge contribution to the fight against the regime. Now their names cannot be announced, but I think that in Belarus there will be an analogue of the title "righteous of the peoples of the world" - people who hid Jews during the Second World War. When Belarus becomes truly free, this title will be awarded to everyone who helped political prisoners, collected parcels at Akrestsin Street. All names and surnames will be announced.

- I understand that not all information can be voiced today, but how did you manage to cross the border?

- While in the underground, I already thought about how to leave. On the night of July 1-2, I managed to cross the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. This story itself deserves special attention. I was not alone when I crossed the border, there was one more person with me. It was a 10 km long night crossing. It was raining heavily. Since I was wanted, we had to take the way around to bypass all the villages.

We walked through the woods, and in the end we ran into a Belarusian patrol. Everything did not go according to plan, so we had to urgently cross the swamps. At first I thought that they would not look for me, but my photographs were sent to all the police departments, some were even posted on the so-called "honor boards". However, they got nothing, not another political prisoner.

- Where are you now, if not a secret?

- At the moment I am in Lithuania, serving a mandatory quarantine. Lithuanians are very understanding about our situation. And this is despite the catastrophe with illegal migrants, brought about by the Lukashenka regime. The attitude towards Belarusians is simply wonderful. In the coming days, perhaps, I will be in Vilnius and continue to serve quarantine there.

- Lithuania had to introduce a state of emergency due to the situation with illegal migrants at the border. You may have seen what is happening at the border. What's the situation there?

- I personally saw how Lukashenka’s regime in an organized manner brings illegal migrants from Iraq and Africa by buses, simply "bombing' the countries of the European Union with them.

I believe that this should not go unpunished. This is a real act of terrorism against European countries. A worthy response must be given to this - the strengthening of sanctions.

Despite the fact that I left Belarus, I still don't feel completely free. My wife is being held hostage. Yes, the children are safe today, they are not in danger, I hope to meet with them in the near future.

I will repeat once again to all the people who are under a non-leave obligation, who voluntarily go to the trial and the circus that suits Lukashenka's regime, receive sentences, go to prisons. There is no fair trial in Belarus, what is happening is a farce - this was confirmed by the trial of my wife Palina.

Once again, I urge you not to play to the tune of the regime; it is simply unrecommended to go to such trials. We need to work against the system and resist in every possible way. The struggle continues, and the victory will be ours!

If you like this article, you can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL 97 1160 2202 0000 0002 1671 1123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail [email protected]