Mikalai Statkevich: Lukashenka’s statement is another attempt to bargain for some bonuses

• 12.08.2015, 15:00

The former presidential candidate in Belarus, a political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, who turns 59 on August 12, has phoned his wife Maryna Adamovich today.

As Adamovich told BelaPAN, in particular, he commented on statements of Alyaksandr Lukashenka on chances for his early release.

On August 4 Lukashenka stated that the question of Statkevich could be resolved in the near future.

“I won’t be, this issue is on the agenda. Only I can solve it. But I have not decided, when it is going to happen. I have not considered this issue in this way. If he should be released, he is to be released before the elections. If not, he should not be released. You will know about that in the near future,” he said.

“Mikalai said that it reminds announcements in “From Hand to Hand” newspaper. To his mind, this statement is another attempt to bargain for some bonuses and credits for himself,” the wife of the political prisoner said.

Statkevich also said that congratulatory messages are not received by him. “For today there is a letter with congratulations of the US Embassy and three telegrams. Most likely, they simply withhold congratulatory messages. I know from people, who had said to me personally they had sent letters to prison, there should be a lot more of them,” Maryna Adamovich said.

Statkevich said that he knows about the solidarity campaign, which had been launched in social networks and dedicated to his birthday – today Facebook users post for the political prisoner pictures of the sky, which he cannot see in his prison cell.

It is the fifth Mikalai Statkevich’s birthday celebrated by him in prison.