Pofalla: Do not shift responsibility and criticize the opposition

-- How do you estimate the current state of affairs of the Belarusian opposition and how capable, in your opinion, they are of changing something in Belarus?

Ronald Pofalla: The political repressions in Belarus have become catastrophic to such an extent that it doesn't matter who would work in the political opposition. Whoever it was, they would not be able to work without restrictions. You still have political prisoners, repressions, house arrests continue. This is a totally unacceptable situation. As long as such repressions and intimidations exist, no political party can possibly work and develop as we imagine it, or as it is desirable for the political opposition.

-- You've met with the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces right before or meeting. What are your impressions - are they ready for unity?

Ronald Pofalla: Yes, indeed, I've met with those among whom there are many of my old friends. Besides, they have also come through imprisonment after December 19. It was a great joy for me to meet them at freedom. They have come through many things in prison. However, you won't have free elections anyway. Therefore, it is not essential which strategy the opposition would choose for the upcoming parliamentary election - a united or an individual one. The opposition has minimal chance at this unfair election in any case. Lukashenka should create conditions to hold a free election in Belarus. Do not shift responsibility and criticize one action of the opposition or another. The first and the only thing that should be criticized is the political non-freedom and political repressions that exist in Belarus. The Belarusian regime will never be able to get at least partly legitimized until there are political prisoners in the country. Lukashenka must release them all - and that's it!

-- However, there has been a certain progress in this issue…

Ronald Pofalla: Yes, there has been some progress. However, I would not want to use this very word in this case. As the fact that there are still political prisoners in Belarus a year and a half since the December 19 event is totally unacceptable, the same as that you still have death penalty. We have basic values which are inseparably connected with the system of law. In our opinion, death penalty is incompatible to the criminal system of a legal state. There is a consensus on this issue among all the 27 EU member states. As for you, the death penalty has not just stayed in the Criminal Code, it is, and this is the most horrible, implemented and executed. We were shocked several weeks ago when the sentences to two criminals accused of conducting a terrorist act in the metro were executed. I don't want to tell anything about the innocence of the criminals. I just want to tell that, in legal states such processes take months and months, they conduct all the necessary expertises, when there is a little doubt in the results of the previously conducted expertises, so that there would be no doubt at all. If it is impossible to prove guilt fully, without any doubt, the sentence is made to the benefit of the accused. These principles were not considered fully during that criminal process in Belarus. I was told that the confessions were "beaten out", or the investigators forced the people to confess by intimidating them, and the latter denied their words in court. However, no one paid attention to that and the sentences were made anyway. And the most unbelievable thing is that the sentences were executed! We think that a person's life is the greatest value. You have not the best situation in this regard. Therefore, we insist on release of all political prisoners. While there are political prisoners, there will be sanctions.

-- Which ones?

Ronald Pofalla: The problem of our sanctions is that we want to impose sanctions which would not affect ordinary Belarusians, as they are not responsible for what is happening in Belarus now. The sanctions should have an impact on the regime's leaders in order to show them that such behaviour is unacceptable. They reproach us that we are not consistent and brave enough. I disagree with that. I think that the sanctions should not affect ordinary citizens in any case, only those who are in the political administration, or in the system of justice, economy - those who are responsible for the existence of this regime and behave the way they behave now. 

-- EU Commissioner Fule presented the "modernization dialogue" for Belarus. Is it possible that the Belarusian authorities will join this project and will be really involved into it? 

Ronald Pofalla: The so-called "modernization dialogue" is aimed at holding a dialogue and elaboration of suggestions with the Belarusian civil society and the political opposition, not with the regime! A dialogue with an authoritarian regime on how the future should look like is an absurdity. We are speaking only about holding such dialogue with the political opposition and the civil society. Although there are the biggest political difficulties in the relations between Europe and Belarus at the moment, we think that we should provide an opportunity to continue a dialogue with Europe exactly to these people.

-- Even the European experts claim that the EU has no strategic interest to Belarus now - the events in the North Africa and the internal economic problems take all the attention. Is this true? What are the closest perspectives of development of the relations between the EU and Belarus?

Ronald Pofalla: As for perspectives: Lukashenka must fulfill the main demand - release of political prisoners. This is him who is responsible for the fact that the non-freedom, repressions and fear flourish in your country. It is unclear why we should launch some project or look for some approaches until this demand is fulfilled and corresponding conditions for certain steps are created. Until he fulfills this condition there won't be any substantial changes in the relations between Belarus and the European Union. Your President should know that. Belarus is a fantastic country and a part of Europe, with a great history. This is tragic that such a country is ruled by a President who tore Belarus off the Western Europe. Your country could have become the bridge to connect Europe with other parts of our continent. Lukashenka is to take the next step.

-- Can we expect that, if the parliamentary election goes with no evident repressions, Europe may take it as a sign of possible liberalization in Belarus and will resume the dialogue with the official Minsk, even if political prisoners remain in prisons and no opposition members make it to the parliament?

Ronald Pofalla: While there is even one political prisoner in Belarus, there will be no dialogue with the Belarusian regime in the form that you have mentioned. Even if there are no such repressions at this parliamentary election as at the previous one, the election will not become any better. Even if there are no arrests, beatings, detentions - this will not legitimize the election. It is obvious even at this stage of the election's organization that the election will not be recognized as legitimate. I'll say it once again - Lukashenka must release political prisoners! We will never withdraw this demand. 

Photo: Zmicier Lukashuk