NAM lawyer Kyrylyuk Mikhail emphasized in an interview with Radio Svaboda that the authorities turn a blind eye to international extremists while targeting Belarusians for their national identity, treating them as if they were terrorists:
"When Russian soldiers, who have committed crimes in Ukraine that can be equated with true extremism, come to Belarus, they are allowed to promote the narratives of the 'Russian World' and even teach Belarusian youth 'patriotism.' The authorities overlook this.Yet, the founder of Symbal.by, a true patriot of his country, Pavel Belavus, was imprisoned essentially for promoting Belarusian national ideas. The deputy editor of Nasha Niva highlighted the harsh treatment in prisons towards those speaking Belarusian. Persecution of Belarusians in Belarus has become state policy".
Those advocating "traditional values" violate Christian principles:
Kyrylyuk Mikhail pointed out the increasing repression even against relatives of political prisoners who seek to support their loved ones:
"Providing help and sending packages to prisoners is charity and a fundamental aspect of Christian morality, as mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount. But here, people are jailed for assisting innocent individuals in prison. This represents a grave violation of human rights and moral values.
This indicates that even in the fourth year of violent power retention, Lukashenka and his associates do not feel secure. They seek to maintain an atmosphere of fear and terror in the country, clearly believing it to be their only source of power", says NAM lawyer.
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