Soviet dissident Mikhail Kukabaka: Ales Bialiatski’s release manifestation of political expediency

Belarusian dissident and political prisoner of the Soviet times,Mikhail Kukabaka, having learned of the release of Ales Bialiatski from a report on the radio station “Echo of Moscow”, has written about it in a letter to the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

“My sincere congratulations, Ales! I can also congratulate your entire team, who did their best to hasten the day,” says Mikhail Kukabaka.

Meanwhile, he says that he “would like to warn some opposition activists from excessive euphoria about this and malevolent remarks to the President,” referring toa need to secure the release of all other political prisoners who still remain behind bars.

Mikhail Kukabaka regards Ales Bialiatski’srelease “as a manifestation of political expediency”. “Seeing the examples of the current processes that are taking place in Ukraine, Aliaksandr Lukashenka realizes how vulnerable the Belarusian statehood will be if it is faced withMr. Putin. Although too late, but President realized that in case of Putin’saggression the level of treason by the army and security services at times will exceed the current figures in Ukraine. And at the same time, Lukashenka clearly sees how sincerely Europe and the U.S. are fighting for Ukrainian sovereignty with both diplomatic means and financial support. It is possible that now President will actively seek rapprochement with Europe. And this process is needed to be promoted, for a while leaving behind personal ambitions and resentments,” he said.

Mikhail Kukabaka was released as a result of “Gorbachev’s amnesty”, becoming the lastpolitical prisoner in the Soviet Union, after he refused to write a petition for clemency. He now lives in Moscow, but closely follows the events in Belarus, responding to them by publications on the Internet. In April,Mikhail Kukabaka visited Minskat the invitation of the HRC “Viasna”, and he had the opportunity to get acquainted with the activities of the leading Belarusian human rights organizations. One of the main topics in conversations with the former Soviet dissident was the issue of political prisoners in Belarus.