Belarus releases two political prisoners in exchange of Europe’s trade preferences?
Pavel had only two months remaining before his two-year exile term expired. He was sentenced in 2005 to restricted freedom for staging youth protests against the rigging of the referendum that allowed Lukashenka to stay in presidential office for the third term. His parents are excited to get Pavel back home. Mother Tatsiana Seviarynets say she has already baked cakes to welcome her son:
“Everything is ready. I have baked cakes as usual when he would come. We have also invited some guests to congratulate him with the release.”
The European Radio for Belarus caught up with Pavel on his way home. He said the actions of the authorities did not come unexpected for him.
“Frankly speaking, I was expecting to be released. The point is that the EU is soon to take a decision on abolishing trade preferences for Belarus. The regime was apparently interested in making concessions to the West. This is serious money and serious questions for the regime. I refused to be released for repenting and confessing to being guilty two months ago. They apparently found another solution. The release was justified by “positive behavior,” Pavel said.
His mother jokes that Pavel would always stand out for his good behavior:
“We all are laughing now! He was marked out for excellent behavior when at school, at college and even now in exile.”
According to the mother, the whole village came out to see Pavel off.
“It was very hard when Pavel was leaving back to exile after spending a weekend here. My heart would almost burst into pieces. I was worried about him staying there doing a dangerous work with only deep woods around. Even wolves would often come to their village. But his fellow in-mates treated him well. They had a farewell party for him yesterday. Today they all came out and waved farewell to his car.”
Pavel Seviarynets left behind his half-wild cat named Partisan.
“Unfortunately, he had to leave Partisan behind because it was a half-wild cat. But he also came to say bye to Pavel. The son wanted to take him along, but I and the father told him that the cat could not be left at home because he is used to outdoors. Pavel passed it on as the baton. There is a woman Vika who was Pavel’s good friend. So she promised to take care of the cat,” the mother said.
The two years that Seviarynets has spent in exile will not hamper his political career. In fact, it is just the beginning, according to Pavel.
“I will definitely go on with my political activities. I will take part in promoting the For Freedom movement and continue supporting the Christian democracy and the Malady Front. The aim is to travel around the towns from where I received letters of support and telephone calls. Besides, I am writing a novel,” Pavel said.
While talking to Pavel, we also learned that another political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich was released from exile. Apparently, authorities are trying to convince Europe that they are making steps to meet Europe’s principle conditions in order to save $400 million of trade preferences.
On the other hand, it is a very cunning release. The both politicians have almost finished their terms. Meanwhile, the former presidential contender, Aliaksandr Kazulin, remains behind bars. This tells more eloquently about the government’s true intentions.
