Commentary: Kolesnikova and the Sign will go down in the history of Belarus | Comments from DW Reviewers and Guest Contributors

The columnist for the FAZ newspaper Reinhard Veser devoted his commentary to the verdict of the Belarusian oppositionists Maria Kolesnikova and Maksim Znak.

“Maria Kolesnikova and Maxim Znak are in prison for deeds that would make them respected in society in any free country. They fought in favor of a candidate with a moderate reform program, worked on a peaceful change of government in a democratic way and demanded that the laws be observed. , in the eyes of Lukashenka, who perpetrates arbitrariness and violence, as well as his henchmen, this crime is even more serious because both of them, even knowing what threatened them, nevertheless decided to stay in Belarus. Kolesnikova was able to resist her expulsion from the country, which was a defeat for the Lukashenka regime.

FAZ columnist Reinhard Feser

How insecure Lukashenka feels even after the violent suppression of mass protests and how afraid of the attractive force that Kolesnikova is capable of, in the first place, can be judged by the fact that he did not dare to publicize the trial of Znak and Kolesnikova. The smile with which both oppositionists presented their persecutors from a cage in the courtroom on the day they were sentenced will enter the iconography of the Belarusian democratic movement.

It can be assumed that Lukashenka will also try to break Kolesnikova and Znak, as his henchmen did in previous years with thousands of other, lesser-known victims who were subjected to physical and mental torture and mocked them. The EU, as a democratic neighbor of Belarus, should not return to the usual agenda after expressing the proper indignation at the unfair verdict. He has no leverage to secure the release of political prisoners in Belarus. But he must use all the means at his disposal to put pressure on the dictator Lukashenka. Because the way he violates human rights crosses all boundaries, as well as his attempts to use migrants as a weapon against the EU. “

By Reinhard Feser, columnist for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Without the right to reprint. © Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung GmbH, Frankfurt am Main.

Сайт газеты Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

The commentary expresses the personal opinion of the author. It may not coincide with the opinion of the Russian editorial staff and Deutsche Welle in general.

See also:

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Record for political prisoners in Belarus
Over 600 – such a record number of political prisoners in the history of the country is quoted by the human rights center “Viasna”. Among those who were unfairly imprisoned due to political persecution are presidential campaign participants, volunteers of their headquarters, activists, businessmen, bloggers, journalists, IT specialists, workers, students and other protesters.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Victor and Edward Babariko
A presidential contender, ex-head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko could become Lukashenka’s strongest rival in the elections. He was detained along with his son Eduard, who led his initiative group, in June 2020 on charges of money laundering, bribery and tax evasion. On July 6, 2021, Viktor Babariko was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Maria Kolesnikova
Musician and art director Maria Kolesnikova headed the election headquarters of Viktor Babariko. Then she became one of the “three graces” who headed the Joint Headquarters of the opposition. Member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council. She was kidnapped and brought to the border with Ukraine for expulsion from the country. But she tore up my passport and thwarted this operation. In prison since September 2020. Charged in the case of seizing power.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
To jail – for legal aid
Lawyer of Victor Babariko’s headquarters, member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council Maxim Znak (pictured) and lawyer of Maria Kolesnikova Ilya Salei were detained in September 2020 in the case of public calls to action to the detriment of national security. Ilya Salei was released on bail in April. Maxim Znak became a defendant in a criminal case on the seizure of power. He has been tried behind closed doors with Maria Kolesnikova since August 4.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Sergei Tikhanovsky
The author of the popular YouTube channel “Country for Life” Sergei Tikhanovsky wanted to run for the presidency of the Republic of Belarus, but before the start of the election campaign he was detained, after which his wife Svetlana put forward her candidacy. When he was released after an administrative arrest, he helped collect signatures for her, but in May 2020 he was arrested. In June 2021, the trial began behind closed doors.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Country for Life activists
Within the framework of the “Country for Life” project, Tikhanovsky traveled to the regions of Belarus and gave an opportunity to local residents to tell about their problems. About 30 persons involved in the “Tikhanovsky case” have already been convicted. Together with Tikhanovsky in the dock – opposition politician Nikolai Statkevich, operator of “Country for Life” Artem Sakov, social media moderator Dmitry Popov, bloggers Vladimir Tsyganovich and Igor Losik.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Igor Losik
The founder of the telegram channel “Belarus of the Brain” Igor Losik actively covered the events around the election campaign of the President of Belarus. Detained in June 2020. He was accused of organizing and preparing actions to the detriment of public order. Then – in “preparation for participation in mass riots.” He went on a hunger strike in protest for over 40 days.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Bloggers behind bars
Other bloggers have already been sentenced. Sergei Petrukhin (pictured) and Alexander Kabanov (“People’s Reporter”) received 3 years in prison. Sergei Korshun and Sergei Yaroshevich (“Army with the People”) – 4.5 and 5.5 years old. Vladimir Neronsky (“Slutsk for Life”) – 3 years old, Dmitry Kozlov (“Gray Cat”) – 5 years old, Denis Gutin (“Drivers-97”) – 2.5 years old. Since June, the trial of Nikolai Dedok has been underway. Eduard Palchis remains on guard.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Leaders of the “old” opposition
Pavel Sevyarynets, co-founder of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party (pictured), has been arrested more than once before. In June 2020, he was detained after pickets to collect signatures for the nomination of presidential candidates. Mikalai Statkevich is another well-known opposition figure, presidential candidate in 2010. Detained in May on the way to the pre-election picket of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and is still in custody.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Human rights defenders targeted by the authorities
Human rights defenders were also persecuted by the Belarusian authorities. Employees of the Viasna human rights center are in custody, including its head Ales Bialiatski (pictured) and deputy Valentin Stefanovich. The well-known human rights activist Leonid Sudalenko is accused of financing activities that violate public order. He paid fines to people detained for participating in protests.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Independent media staff
Media manager Andrei Alexandrov (pictured) was detained on suspicion of financing the protests. He paid the protesters’ fines. More than 20 media representatives are now in custody, including the Tut.by portal and the Nasha Niva publication. Employees of the “Press Club” spent 8 months in the pre-trial detention center. On August 19, 2021, four of them were released, two remain in custody.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Katerina Borisevich
Journalists also fell victim to political repression. Katerina Borisevich (Tut.by portal) spent 6 months in prison. In her article, she wrote that there was no alcohol in the blood of Roman Bondarenko, who died after being beaten by Lukashenka’s supporters, contrary to the claims of the authorities. This information was given to her by the doctor of the emergency hospital Artem Sorokin, now also a political prisoner.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Katerina Andreeva and Daria Chultsova
Journalists of the Polish TV channel Belsat Katerina Andreeva and Darya Chultsova were streaming during the brutal dispersal of the protesters by the security forces in the Minsk courtyard, known as “Change Square” – and received two years in prison. They were accused of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
The PandaDoc case
Of the four employees of the Belarusian office of the IT company PandaDoc, detained in the fall, only product director Viktor Kuvshinov remains in prison on suspicion of embezzlement of funds. Human rights activists are confident that this is how the authorities are putting pressure on the founder of the company, Nikita Mikado. After the elections, he helped security officials who refused to follow criminal orders, suppressing protests, and lost their jobs.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Student activists
Students were expelled or subjected to administrative arrests for protests. And 12 defendants in the “student case”, including Olga Filatchenkova, a traitor to BSUIR, and Alana Gebremariam, a medical university graduate (pictured), were accused of “active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order” and were imprisoned for a term of 2 to 2.5 years.

Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Disproportionate response to protesters
Several dozen political prisoners are accused of participating in mass riots or using violence against police officers. According to human rights activists, peaceful protests did not pose a threat to national or public security. Certain cases of violence against the police require a separate legal qualification – in the context of self-defense against disproportionate actions of the security forces.
Author: Yanina Moroz