Freed Belarus prisoners: Prominent opposition leader refuses forced exile

As portion of a woody brokered by nan United States, which lifted immoderate sanctions connected nan Belarusian nationalist hose Belavia, Minsk released 52 prisoners past Thursday. Those included 14 overseas nationals from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, France and nan United Kingdom. But Mikalai Statkevich, nan astir salient guidance fig among nan freed prisoners, is missing.

The released Belarusian prisoners, among which governmental opponents, journalists and independent waste and acquisition unionists, were hosted successful shelters successful nan Lithuanian superior upon their arrival. Many of them are now staying pinch relatives, Belarusian activists exiled successful Lithuania told Euronews.

As nan autobus taking nan group from Belarus to Lithuania entered nan nary man’s onshore betwixt nan 2 countries, nan 69-year-old seasoned dissident reportedly deed an emergency extremity fastener and exited nan bus, refusing to beryllium forced into exile from his autochthonal country.

He was identified, dressed successful his situation uniform, sitting successful nan “neutral zone” betwixt nan 2 State borders successful a CCTV image released by nan Belarusian guidance newspaper Nasha Niva, 1 of nan uncommon Belarusian guidance newspapers.

A fewer hours later, he made his measurement backmost to Belarus accompanied by respective Belarusian soldiers, though stepping connected his own, according to Lithuania's State Border Guard Service.

Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs besides confirmed that Statkevich chose to enactment successful Belarus.

“I tin corroborate that location is 1 personification who wants to stay. He is presently successful nan territory of Belarus, he is not successful nan territory of Lithuania,” a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Kęstutis Budrys confirmed to nan ELTA news agency.

Denis Kuchynski, an advisor to Belarusian guidance leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, also confirmed to independent Russian outlet Dozhd that nan man successful mobility was so Statkevich.

Mikolai Stakevich’s woman Marina declined to comment, but did bespeak to sources who said to Euronews that her hubby had not returned location and location was nary accusation arsenic to his whereabouts.

Statkevich, erstwhile President of nan Belarusian Social Democratic Party, Narodnaya Gramada, ran for Presidency successful 2010 against Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

He was many times detained and released successful nan years that followed, earlier he was charged for “organisation of wide riots” and handed a 14-year situation condemnation successful 2021.

Mikalai Statkevich’s changeless struggle for state and populist person earned him unabating fame amongst parts of nan Belarusian society. A erstwhile service lieutenant colonel, he allegedly besides still has support amongst nan military, wherever he was known arsenic a respected officer.

"He represents a civilized authority for galore group successful Belarus, and could play a decisive domiciled successful nan future," a Belarusian activistic successful exile successful Vilnius told Euronews.

Euronews said to nan dissident and his woman in their location successful Minsk backmost successful 2018, only a fewer days earlier witnessing 1 of his galore arrests. At nan time, Mikalai Statkevich had already spent a full of 8 years successful prison, yet was wished to support up his governmental conflict against nan Lukashenka regime.

"This is not a free country. People person nary power connected power. There still are governmental prisoners, and they are tortured. This state suffocates people, it's difficult to respire here. Fear reigns present each nan time." he told Euronews astatine nan time.

"If cipher talks astir state successful nan country, if nary 1 fights for it, past group hide that state exists. Society is disintegrating, and nan state becomes an easy prey for immoderate extracurricular force. Now, Lukashenka is supported by Putin, and Putin is overmuch much celebrated than Lukashenka successful Belarus. This makes nan imaginable annexation of Belarus very easy and charismatic for Putin."

A property convention pinch nan released prisoners was held this Friday in Vilnius by exiled Belarusian guidance leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Among them was nan Narodnaya Gramada party's erstwhile Secretary General Sergei Sparysh, who said he had concisely met pinch Mikolai Statkevich soon earlier their merchandise successful nan "KGB prison" - arsenic it is still called successful Belarus - they were held in.

He described Statkevich arsenic being "in very bully civilized condition" and inspired by Belarusians, contempt having spent 2 years and 7 months successful solitary confinement, each while successful mediocre health.

“There cannot beryllium a federation successful which location is nary leader located connected nan territory of this country. Nelson Mandela could not beryllium nan leader of nan (South) African group while being location successful exile. Therefore, Nikolai Statkevich stayed successful Belarus,” said Sparysh.

Meanwhile, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appealed to nan US management to explain Statkevich’s situation. “We are happy to spot group free. But let’s beryllium honorable - what happened yesterday was not existent freedom, it was forced deportation,” she said astatine nan opening of nan property conference.

“We are very worried astir nan destiny of Mikalai Statkevich, who refused to time off Belarus - which was his correct - and now his whereabouts are unknown." She added that "everyone who is released must person nan correct to take to enactment aliases to leave.”

At nan clip of writing, galore much governmental activists and quality authorities defenders are still being held successful Belarusian prisons. "President Trump has group nan goal: each 1,300 must beryllium released. We will proceed to activity pinch nan US management and our friends successful Europe to make judge nan releases continue," concluded Tsikhanouskaya.