Alexander Kozulin: I won't go on a hunger strike
The European Radio for Belarus visits political prisoner Alexander Kozulin at his home one hour before departure back to the colony. While he was rushing from press-conferences and meetings, his daughter Yulia was frying a huge carp. She knew if the father did not eat it on the way, the fish would not be allowed into the prison.
The head of the family was running late, while his apartment was getting full with new people. His beloved ones, relatives and friends have come here.
Alexander Kozulin showed up 45 minutes before his departure and changed into the prison uniform.
ERB: During these three days at home you behaved different from what others could expect…
Kozulin: When I came here, when the burial took place, when I fulfilled my duty before my wife, I found myself in an atmosphere of human love and condolences of the whole Belarusian people.
People came from every region of the country. I have been overwhelmed. I have my true nature, my character coming back.
Thousands of people came to me, asking not to go on a hunger strike anymore. They said that people and the country needed me. So I felt a huge responsibility for the people. I am not free to take care of my own life any longer.
I would say before that if people want me to remain alive, they should do something for that. Now I can say that nobody needs to do anything. I owe people. I lived because of them. When you read the letters that they wrote me, you get your eyes misty. Both the children and a 86-year-old man wrote.
The time has come that I cannot allow myself to resemble the current regime, especially at this sad moment. Violence is the main tool of the regime. The death has opened my eyes that everything has come close to that dangerous line where there is chaos, destruction.
ERB: Has there been any reaction from the authorities to your proposal for reconciliation?
Kozulin: I have not received any reaction from the authorities to my behavior. I think they feel stranded and embarassed. They need time to pull themselves together.
I have always stood out by being unpredictable. The same happened in 2006 when a professor turned into a marine. Back then, nobody could figure out what had happened. But I always act in accordance with the situation I find myself in.
In 2006, my internal basis was the same. I was also proposing a serious compromise and a dialogue to the authorities. But the compromise implies a motion from the both sides, not a dictate of force. The dictate of force became obvious, but I never give in to the force.
ERB: What was the reaction of opposition activists?
Kozulin: It is worth noting that I met with all the democratic leaders and made exact proposals. It seems that these proposals will be supported.
ERB: During the burial, former KGB chairman Uladzimir Matskevich was present among others. Who among your former colleagues in the government proved themselves noble in this difficult situation for your family?
Kozulin: Matskevich is the godfather of my younger daughter Yulia. He would never refuse from that. A small number of former colleagues expressed support. I will not reveal their names in order not to do any harm to them.
ERB: Was there anyone who behaved against your expectations?
Kozulin: Alexander Zhuk, currently a deputy education minister, was my personal friend and a friend of our family. Neither him nor his wife nor their daughter offered their condolences. We are all equal in front of the death. His betrayal is apparently not temporary.
ERB: On the first day, you were saying very harsh things like about suing Lukashenka in court. Now you are saying that you have forgiven him. What has made you rethink your position?
Kozulin: You know, by my nature, I am a warrior… I always go forward to the end. But a warrior is also a defender. The death of my wife has simply blown me off. Even the most sacred thing was humiliated in the most filthy way.
ERB: So it was your reaction to this filthiness?
Kozulin: Of course. When I watched Lukashenka's TV statement about my wife and my answer, I first felt stoned. Then, I got terrified with how low this man had fallen in terms of morals. And, this man rules our country. Of course, it was a normal first reaction of a normal person. They could not humiliate the dead…
ERB: Today you said you are forgiving…
Kozulin: Of course. I've been just describing my feelings at that moment, because their position was not human.
He agreed to treat my wife in 2005 in Germany. Our ambassador in Germany was personally in charge of this issue. Eventually, Germany refused and we lost nine months of the most valuable time.
I thought then that something human had woken up within him. He passed a word through Konoplyov that war is war but the life of our beloved ones is more important. So I thought it was some light that woke up in the man. Of course, I was very grateful.
But there was no full examination, no diagnosis, no treatment… What could we do? Presidential campaign, elections, prison… The wife threw everything in my defense. If we could have done everything in 2005…
ERB: What was behind this TV statement by Lukashenka?
Kozulin: A blind anger. I again broke his plans and confused his cards. He had a good picture in mind: Kozulin is out of the country; he is in Germany. I was offered all the best in the world but in Germany.
ERB: That happened when you were in jail?
Kozulin: Yes.
ERB: The offer came from the prison administration?
Kozulin: No. The offer came from him personally through very serious high-profile middlemen.
ERB: When was the offer made?
Kozulin: One week before his TV statement. You may well understand that it would make no sense already to treat my wife in Germany at that moment. In fact, I was not offered anything regarding the treatment. I was offered sea, sunshine at any place and for any time we want.
I was jailed because of the personal order of Lukashenka. So I was offered to leave for Germany illegally. Imagine, they put me in a vehicle and take me to the place where my family is already waiting. І So we take off, with a passport; everything is ok. In which capacity am I flying there? A convict?
ERB: What did they promise afterwards?
Kozulin: I was then promised amnesty after six months… I would be amnestied and could come back to the country. The condition was that I was out of the country for six months.
Knowing Lukashenka very well, if our relations with the EU and U.S. would look like the way he wants, he would just say: "Apparently, Kozulin cannot be amnestied". Basically, it would look like deportation. Of course, my wife like any other woman would have understood. In principle, everybody in the colony told me that they would have never refused from that. My stance was a clear NO.
ERB: Why?
Kozulin: When I was talking to those who was relaying this offer, I told them: you get it clear whether I am an object of trade or a subject for political internatinal activities. If I am an object, I say no. If I am a subject, let's resolve the issues seriously. Because the issue is not just about Kozulin. There are also Zdvizhkov and Kim as well.
Besides, we must understand that this is not just the release of political prisoners. The question is whether there will be a moratorium for repressions. We are released today, but 20 more people will be put behind bars tomorrow. Will it be the resolution of the issue? My wife understood that I could not step over those moral principles. Apparently, you know about her open letter.
When they told me about her death, I almost destroyed the whole colony. Knowing my character, you can imagine what my actions were.
At this moment, someone pointed to the watch. 17.00. He has three hours to reach the prison in Vitsebsk.
ERB: Last question. You are coming back to prison in three hours. What do you think will be different?
Kozulin: I will humbly accept what my fate has prepared for me. I will give myself into the hands of Lord.
ERB: It means you will not go on a hungr strike anymore…
Kozulin: I will not even violate the internal regime.
P.S. The car with Alexander Kozulin made it to the clolony one minute before his leave expired despite the fact that the vehicles was stopped twice by the traffic police. He was solemnly met by the prison administration…
The prison gates opened and closed behind the former presidential candidate.
“We meet at freedom”. That was the last his friends heard when Kozulin was taken away.
By vitalina Hrakhouskaya and Katsyaryna Bulanava
Photo by Vitalina Hrakhouskaya
The head of the family was running late, while his apartment was getting full with new people. His beloved ones, relatives and friends have come here.
Alexander Kozulin showed up 45 minutes before his departure and changed into the prison uniform.
ERB: During these three days at home you behaved different from what others could expect…
Kozulin: When I came here, when the burial took place, when I fulfilled my duty before my wife, I found myself in an atmosphere of human love and condolences of the whole Belarusian people.
People came from every region of the country. I have been overwhelmed. I have my true nature, my character coming back.
Thousands of people came to me, asking not to go on a hunger strike anymore. They said that people and the country needed me. So I felt a huge responsibility for the people. I am not free to take care of my own life any longer.
I would say before that if people want me to remain alive, they should do something for that. Now I can say that nobody needs to do anything. I owe people. I lived because of them. When you read the letters that they wrote me, you get your eyes misty. Both the children and a 86-year-old man wrote.
The time has come that I cannot allow myself to resemble the current regime, especially at this sad moment. Violence is the main tool of the regime. The death has opened my eyes that everything has come close to that dangerous line where there is chaos, destruction.
ERB: Has there been any reaction from the authorities to your proposal for reconciliation?
Kozulin: I have not received any reaction from the authorities to my behavior. I think they feel stranded and embarassed. They need time to pull themselves together.
I have always stood out by being unpredictable. The same happened in 2006 when a professor turned into a marine. Back then, nobody could figure out what had happened. But I always act in accordance with the situation I find myself in.
In 2006, my internal basis was the same. I was also proposing a serious compromise and a dialogue to the authorities. But the compromise implies a motion from the both sides, not a dictate of force. The dictate of force became obvious, but I never give in to the force.
ERB: What was the reaction of opposition activists?
Kozulin: It is worth noting that I met with all the democratic leaders and made exact proposals. It seems that these proposals will be supported.
ERB: During the burial, former KGB chairman Uladzimir Matskevich was present among others. Who among your former colleagues in the government proved themselves noble in this difficult situation for your family?
Kozulin: Matskevich is the godfather of my younger daughter Yulia. He would never refuse from that. A small number of former colleagues expressed support. I will not reveal their names in order not to do any harm to them.
ERB: Was there anyone who behaved against your expectations?
Kozulin: Alexander Zhuk, currently a deputy education minister, was my personal friend and a friend of our family. Neither him nor his wife nor their daughter offered their condolences. We are all equal in front of the death. His betrayal is apparently not temporary.
ERB: On the first day, you were saying very harsh things like about suing Lukashenka in court. Now you are saying that you have forgiven him. What has made you rethink your position?
Kozulin: You know, by my nature, I am a warrior… I always go forward to the end. But a warrior is also a defender. The death of my wife has simply blown me off. Even the most sacred thing was humiliated in the most filthy way.
ERB: So it was your reaction to this filthiness?
Kozulin: Of course. When I watched Lukashenka's TV statement about my wife and my answer, I first felt stoned. Then, I got terrified with how low this man had fallen in terms of morals. And, this man rules our country. Of course, it was a normal first reaction of a normal person. They could not humiliate the dead…
ERB: Today you said you are forgiving…
Kozulin: Of course. I've been just describing my feelings at that moment, because their position was not human.
He agreed to treat my wife in 2005 in Germany. Our ambassador in Germany was personally in charge of this issue. Eventually, Germany refused and we lost nine months of the most valuable time.
I thought then that something human had woken up within him. He passed a word through Konoplyov that war is war but the life of our beloved ones is more important. So I thought it was some light that woke up in the man. Of course, I was very grateful.
But there was no full examination, no diagnosis, no treatment… What could we do? Presidential campaign, elections, prison… The wife threw everything in my defense. If we could have done everything in 2005…
ERB: What was behind this TV statement by Lukashenka?
Kozulin: A blind anger. I again broke his plans and confused his cards. He had a good picture in mind: Kozulin is out of the country; he is in Germany. I was offered all the best in the world but in Germany.
ERB: That happened when you were in jail?
Kozulin: Yes.
ERB: The offer came from the prison administration?
Kozulin: No. The offer came from him personally through very serious high-profile middlemen.
ERB: When was the offer made?
Kozulin: One week before his TV statement. You may well understand that it would make no sense already to treat my wife in Germany at that moment. In fact, I was not offered anything regarding the treatment. I was offered sea, sunshine at any place and for any time we want.
I was jailed because of the personal order of Lukashenka. So I was offered to leave for Germany illegally. Imagine, they put me in a vehicle and take me to the place where my family is already waiting. І So we take off, with a passport; everything is ok. In which capacity am I flying there? A convict?
ERB: What did they promise afterwards?
Kozulin: I was then promised amnesty after six months… I would be amnestied and could come back to the country. The condition was that I was out of the country for six months.
Knowing Lukashenka very well, if our relations with the EU and U.S. would look like the way he wants, he would just say: "Apparently, Kozulin cannot be amnestied". Basically, it would look like deportation. Of course, my wife like any other woman would have understood. In principle, everybody in the colony told me that they would have never refused from that. My stance was a clear NO.
ERB: Why?
Kozulin: When I was talking to those who was relaying this offer, I told them: you get it clear whether I am an object of trade or a subject for political internatinal activities. If I am an object, I say no. If I am a subject, let's resolve the issues seriously. Because the issue is not just about Kozulin. There are also Zdvizhkov and Kim as well.
Besides, we must understand that this is not just the release of political prisoners. The question is whether there will be a moratorium for repressions. We are released today, but 20 more people will be put behind bars tomorrow. Will it be the resolution of the issue? My wife understood that I could not step over those moral principles. Apparently, you know about her open letter.
When they told me about her death, I almost destroyed the whole colony. Knowing my character, you can imagine what my actions were.
At this moment, someone pointed to the watch. 17.00. He has three hours to reach the prison in Vitsebsk.
ERB: Last question. You are coming back to prison in three hours. What do you think will be different?
Kozulin: I will humbly accept what my fate has prepared for me. I will give myself into the hands of Lord.
ERB: It means you will not go on a hungr strike anymore…
Kozulin: I will not even violate the internal regime.
P.S. The car with Alexander Kozulin made it to the clolony one minute before his leave expired despite the fact that the vehicles was stopped twice by the traffic police. He was solemnly met by the prison administration…
The prison gates opened and closed behind the former presidential candidate.
“We meet at freedom”. That was the last his friends heard when Kozulin was taken away.
By vitalina Hrakhouskaya and Katsyaryna Bulanava
Photo by Vitalina Hrakhouskaya
