Chair Of The European Parliament Delegation For Relations With Belarus: Lukashenka Faces Trial

You can not indulge in crimes.

Małgorzata Gosiewska is a former Vice-Marshal of the Polish Sejm and former Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Polish Parliament.

At a recent debate in the European Parliament, she addressed the prisoners of the Lukashenka regime in Belarusian.

“Dear Belarusian friends, we remember you. And we will fight for your freedom anyway," she said.

A correspondent of the Charter97.org website spoke with Małgorzata Gosiewska about the responsibility of the Lukashenka regime, sanctions and challenges to a new position.

— In your recent speech in the European Parliament, you stated that the fact that at least six political prisoners died in Belarusian prisons is a terrorist act against the Belarusian people.

— If a dictator puts his citizens in prisons under such cruel conditions that they lose their lives for various reasons, this is a terrorist act against the people. This is a crime that must be prosecuted. This is a crime that needs reaction and final punishment. I believe that this time will come one day, but it also requires us (European politicians and Belarusian civil society) to take decisive action and not to yield a single step to this regime. You can't indulge in crime.

In my opinion, Putin is the main terrorist in the world, and this is how he should be described. Lukashenka is his main assistant, but also an actual doer in Belarus.

— Is Lukashenka a terrorist in your opinion?

— Yes, he's a terrorist. And he should expect a fair trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. I know that actions have already been taken in this regard. I think we will also make an important contribution to this cause.

— In Belarusian opposition circles, there is an opinion that it was possible to achieve the release of political prisoners, increasing the sanctions pressure on the regime by the EU. What is your point of view?

— Speaking of sanctions, it is necessary to think about the fact that they do not hit people directly — this is the most important thing. It is necessary to plan how sanctions should hit the regime, those who support this regime, who are responsible for these criminal actions, and not the representatives of society, so as not to close access to European projects, opportunities for movement, opportunities to study in European countries and learn role models, get strength and inspiration. Sanctions must be approached wisely.

It's necessary to influence the Lukashenka regime more broadly, for example, through China, which has specific interests. Such negotiations were led by President Andrzej Duda, and this was a good direction to impose certain things on Lukashenka, fighting for the lives of prisoners.

Unfortunately, the opportunity to release Andrzej Poczobut was missed. During the exchange of prisoners between the West and Russia, the demand of my government — the United Right coalition, stated by the Minister of the Interior Mariusz Kamiński, that Andrzej Poczobut be included in this exchange, was not taken into account.

We had a very important Russian spy in reserve, and he was transferred for this exchange. Our condition was to take into account our requirements, including Andrzej Poczobut. Unfortunately, the new authorities in Poland did not consider it important enough to maintain this condition. And this is bad, because, I think, Andrzej Poczobut and, perhaps, several more people could already be at large.

— What do you see as the most important challenges in your new role as the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus?

— I take my work seriously. I fight for positions not in order to take a chair, but in order to really perform my functions. And I also belong to this function of the head of the delegation for relations with Belarus, I stated this at our first meeting. We are already preparing a proposal for an action plan, we are preparing for the Belarusian week in the European Parliament, which will be held in December. When the plans are specified, I think it will be time to talk about it.

I would like to state that the delegation for relations with Belarus and my role as chairman are designed to serve the civil society of Belarus and the cause for which you are fighting. My attitude to my mission is as follows: it is service. I look forward to working closely with Belarusian civil society for the benefit of people who are fighting and sacrificing their lives for the good of the cause.

— What would you like to say to the relatives of Belarusian political prisoners?

— That we're together. No words will ease their pain, but I hope that the fact that they are not alone will give them some hope that the time will come when this horror they are experiencing will end. Although we can never fully understand their suffering, since suffering can only be understood by someone who physically feels the same. I would like them to be aware and confident that they are not alone. We stand by them.

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