Pavel Latushka on the struggle of Belarusians within the country.
Have you ever considered the significance of having 1,500 political prisoners (although in reality, we can safely multiply that number by 3, 4, or maybe even 5 times) in a country with a population of 9 million?
It signifies a struggle. It shows that people have not given up.
The term “political prisoner” itself implies that individuals have taken political actions, expressed their positions, and continue to do so.
For instance, in Russia, a country with a population of 140 million, according to data from organizations like Memorial, there are only 87 political prisoners. Let's even multiply that number by 3, 4, or 5. Nevertheless, the difference is evident.
And I believe it is clear that this difference does not arise because Russia is a more democratic state than Belarus. It is because Belarusians are fighting. Internal pressure on the regime is tangible, and the regime is compelled to take it into account. The regime is genuinely afraid of it.
External pressure is about accountability. It involves international mechanisms for holding regimes like Belarus accountable. These mechanisms include sanctions, legal consequences, and political isolation of the regime.
We are employing these tools, although with partial success, but it is not enough at the moment. Primarily, this is because these tools are not in our hands but in the hands of our partners.
It is crucial for the people who continue to resist within the country to see that they are supported and assisted, and that the regime is held accountable and not allowed to act with impunity.
Comments