Former political prisoner and politician Mikalai Statkevich says he has no intention of leaving Belarus. He made the remarks in an interview with Zeit.
“Representatives of the regime now probably hope that the constant fear of being imprisoned again will put an end to my deadly work. Or that I will finally leave Belarus and go abroad for medical treatment. I have received many offers, including from Germany, where my daughters and grandchildren live. Thank you very much! The regime constantly makes my life here more difficult in the hope that I will finally leave the country,” he said.
Mikalai Statkevich was released in February this year after suffering a stroke while in prison.
“But all attempts to drive me out of Belarus have failed. I will not leave the country,” he added.
Mikalai Statkevich also said that his legal status remains unclear.
“The authorities remain silent about my status. Was I pardoned? Or was I only released temporarily so that I could recover, and once I regain my health, will I have to serve the remainder of my sentence?” he said.
“I do not know my legal status, and no one has responded to my official inquiries. After my release, Lukashenka’s press secretary said on state television that I had been pardoned, although I never requested a pardon. But I simply do not know,” Statkevich added.
