Ales Puhkin's godmother Camilla Hansén: “I had really hoped that we should meet one day”

Swedish MP Camilla Hansén was a symbolic godmother of political prisoner Ales Pushkin as part of the #WeStandBYyou campaign organized by the Swiss-German human rights organization Libereco. Viasna asked her a few questions about the life and works of Ales Pushkin and about her further actions.

Camilla Hansén, member of the Swedish Parliament, was impressed by Pushkin's artistic range. Source: Libereco

As a godmother, why did you choose Ales Pushkin specifically?

When I accepted to be a godparent for a political prisoner through Libericos campaign #westandbyyou, I didn’t know much about specific persons being held as political prisoners. When Ales Pushkin was suggested, I accepted it because freedom of cultural expression is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone in a democracy.

You've never seen Ales Pushkin in person, but could you tell me what you imagined him to be like?

From his art, his history of standing up for human rights against a fierce oppressor, and what others have told me, I had really hoped that we should meet one day, to celebrate his freedom and a free, democratic Belarus. He could have taught me much about Belarusian history and culture. Now I think of a photo of him: when he stands alone, with the red and white flag, in front of a wall of armed men and shields (from a demonstration in Minsk, September 4, 2020), that picture shows courage. I imagine him to have been a very courageous man.

You have undoubtedly seen Ales Pushkin's works and read about his performances. What do you remember most?

Ales Pushkin has a broad range as an artist, of which I knew nothing before Liberico's campaign. The range of his art, from performances and activism to beautiful portraits and everyday drawings and his work restoring historic buildings, impresses me.

You wrote on Facebook that you tried to inquire about the case and Ales Pushkin's health before his death. What was this process like, and what were the outcomes?

I have written to the Belarusian regime to express my concern about the situation of political prisoners in general and Ales Pushkin specifically. I have not received any response.

What are your plans and further actions as a godmother after Ales' death?

I will keep asking questions, now with demands for an independent investigation of his death, and demands of access for human rights organizations to information about his case. After all, a repressive dictatorship in Belarus is responsible for this and should be held accountable.

The international community also has a responsibility to act. Therefore I have asked the Swedish government what actions they are ready to take in order to strengthen the situation for human rights in Belarus in light of Ales Pushkin's death and the report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus that has been debated on the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 53rd session that ended on Friday, July 14.

I will also continue to work with the Network for a free and democratic Belarus in the Swedish Parliament. We want to increase the knowledge of Belarus and the democratic forces inside and outside of Belarus among all members of Parliament.