Nikolai Statkevich: There Is A People Who Long For Freedom

The leader of the Belarusian opposition responded to Maria Kolesnikova.

Nikolai Statkevich reflected in his Telegram channel on protests, sanctions and what should be the release of political prisoners. In his text, the leader of the Belarusian opposition responded to former political prisoner Maria Kolesnikova, who once again called for negotiations with Lukashenko's regime:

- Prison is an absolutely unnatural place for human beings. That is why all prisoners dream of being free as soon as possible, and the demand "freedom for political prisoners at any price!" seems understandable and quite fair.

Particularly for relatives and friends of political prisoners. But in this case for decades since the emergence of political prisoners in our country, certain patterns and trends have emerged. I can judge about them from my own experience, as I have been released three times early as a political prisoner.

People become political prisoners because they can no longer tolerate the orders established by the regime, which the people did not choose. They protest against such orders, demand real elections and are imprisoned in the regime's penitentiary system. Democratic countries first support the political demands of the protesters and then switch to demands for the release of political prisoners. Sanctions are imposed, and diplomatic contacts between Western countries and the regime begin in order to secure the release of political prisoners. Representatives of the regime willingly agree to such contacts, which turn into bargaining for the lifting of sanctions for the release of people.

Nikola Statkevich noted that the reasons why people went to the protests and became political prisoners are somehow forgotten:

- Especially since representatives of the regime argue about threats to independence from Moscow, about the lack of political maneuvering of the regime because of the sanctions, which prevent the protection of independence.

After that, another "young genius" inevitably appears on the Western side, who proposes an idea as simple as a rake - we cannot force this regime to democracy, but we can tear Belarus away from Moscow. It is only necessary to agree that it should give up the most odious actions - for example, release political prisoners, because otherwise it is awkward to deal with it.

And then we will lift sanctions and begin to develop economic relations with it to help it realize its desire - to break away from Moscow. A deal is reached, political prisoners are released, sanctions are lifted. The regime and its new partners receive additional profits, but the regime does not break away from Moscow, on the contrary, because Siamese twins cannot break away from each other.

But there are still people who are increasingly hungry for freedom. People are coming out to more and more mass protests, despite the non-public displeasure expressed to their organizers by Western politicians. I know what I'm talking about. The regime is getting more and more scared, the screws are tightened more and more, political prisoners are becoming more and more numerous, the West imposes sanctions, diplomatic contacts begin, and you already know what happens next. And so on in a circle.

This is about regularities. But there are also tendencies. With each circle, more and more protesters die. The number of political prisoners is growing exponentially. Prison terms are increasing, torture of prisoners is becoming harsher. I got the impression that the Western politicians are persistently walking on the rake, but they hit us and every time more and more painfully.

The first time I was released after two years of "chemistry" two months ahead of schedule, thanks to the agreement between the West and the regime. Not a small thing, because I was told directly that during these two months I would be sent from "chemo" to a colony for "violations".

The second time I served less than 5 years of my 6-year sentence. And it was not an easy time, during which I managed to be in a "covered" prison twice. But again I made arrangements, or, as they like to say nowadays, "deals", and I was released.

The third time I served 14 years, of which I served about six and found myself at home in an uncertain legal status after a stroke provoked in prison. Only one thing changed: the stance of neighboring European countries. Probably, after February 2022, they finally realized the real price of words about "breaking away" from Moscow and took a principled position.

Now let's return to the demand "freedom for political prisoners at any price!". If there are no questions about the first part of the demand, there are questions about "any price". For specialists in "deals" price is always about money. And money in our situation means strengthening of the repression machine, more political prisoners and less chances for millions of Belarusians to live in their normal country free from the fear of repression.

I feel very sorry for the people who are behind bars for their beliefs, and I sincerely rejoice at their release. What is especially painful for me is that there are hundreds of women still imprisoned, who find it many times harder than men. I am grateful for the efforts of everyone involved in the release of political prisoners. But this "at any cost" means just "rotation" of political prisoners on an ever larger scale, and in the long run - turning the whole country into a large prison "zone".

That is why the call: "Release my friend at any cost, because she is a wonderful person and it is very hard for her there," should be honestly supplemented with: "Let another woman I don't know be imprisoned instead of her. I will be calmer that way."

Moreover, different people were imprisoned. Some of them protested and risked imprisonment consciously, and some of them got behind bars by accident, because the repression machine was running wide open. And they treat the possibility of becoming the object of a "deal" differently. For some people, the main thing is to be on the outside, and if it's abroad, then it's great - "I've done my time, now let others do theirs".

And for someone who found meaning in his imprisonment as a continuation of the struggle for freedom of the country, rightly believing that the regime suffers losses because of his imprisonment, to become a means of financing the regime, against which he fought, and the enslavement of his country, which he wanted to free, is an unbearable thought. He had already made his sacrifice, accomplished his feat. And turning him into an object of "bargain", selling him like cattle at the market, like a slave at the market, devalues his feat.

Yes, liberation, but not "at any price".

Do not devalue human suffering, the resilience and courage of the best. Do not take the future away from millions.

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