Radzina:We are modest people, we are used to working on our knees (UPDATED)

08/08/2011 - 11:09

Radzina tells about the four months which passed after her escape from Kobryn in a big article, published by Charter'97. She spent almost all this time in Moscow, waiting for the UNO to consider her a political refugee. Right after that Radzina flew to Amsterdam, where she obtained an official status, and then - to Lithuania.

At present moment, Natallia Radzina is in Vilnius. She plans to continue her work at the web-site "Charter'97".

Let us remind you, Natallia Radzina got to the KGB prison after December 19 and spent several months there. She was released on recognizance. Natallia Radzina disappeared in the beginning of April. Her whereabouts were unknown until now.

Euroradio: Why did you decide to ask for political asylum exactly in Lithuania? When did you take this decision?

Radzina: “Initially, I planned to go to Lithuania due to one simple reason - employees of the web-site "Charter'97" managed to move to this country after my arrest, after the presidential election. The web-site was officially registered here and members of my collective are all here, therefore, it is the easiest for me to perform the functions of the web-site's editor in Vilnius”.

Euroradio: Now, after the scandal with passing bank accounts of the Belarusian opposition activists to the official Minsk by the Lithuanian side, have your attitude to this country changed?

Radzina: “This is a rather complicated question. Of course, I have suspicions, of course, I am alarmed, this is natural, in such a situation. I hope that the Lithuanian authorities will be more careful and more responsible with regard to political refugees and democratic activists from Belarus, will consider every case more thoroughly and attentively, after this incident”.

Euroradio: How would you comment the situation with the arrest of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski?

Radzina: “This situation revealed the real state of facts. Unfortunately, many European officials prefer declarative statements better than concrete actions, and these statements often have nothing in common with the actions. We can see what is happening at Ales Bialiatski's example. From the one side, great quantities of statements in support of the Belarusian democratic forces are adapted, but there is no support in the reality. This is not a single case, unfortunately, and I would really like Europe to understand that it is time to conduct real politics instead of declarative one. It is time to build relations with Belarus on the basis of democratic principles and to be more high toned against the dictatorship regime”.

Euroradio: Aren't you afraid that the information connected with the group of "Charter" creators may also get to Minsk?

Radzina: “We are just journalists, we have no bank accounts, so I am not afraid. I have no personal bank accounts in Vilnius. However, what concerns me is that really many democratic non-governmental organizations had to open bank accounts here in order to maintain their activity in Belarus. All of them are under threat now”.

Euroradio: There was information that "Charter" had financial difficulties, is it true?

Радзіна: “The situation is complicated and I dislike it, as one of the most active and popular internet-resources turns out to be in a situation when it may find itself with no financial support whatsoever. This is also the reason for the European officials to think where all the money donated by the EU for development of democracy in Belarus really goes to”.

Euroradio: How did "Charter" obtain registration in Lithuania?

Radzina: “The web-site "Charter'97" is registered officially in the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice as an organization”.

Euroradio: Did they know in Minsk that you were in Moscow? Were there any attempts to bring you back to Belarus from Moscow?

Radzina: “I was really very careful. I did not appear in public places, I was in a narrow circle of very good friends, the people whom I trust. I never called to Belarus from my Russian numbers. I talked only to my mother on Skype, she did not know where I was. She was sure it was somewhere in Europe. Therefore, it is hard for me to say whether they knew. Maybe, they guessed”.

Euroradio: In your opinion, whose input in the fact that you were not extradited to Belarus is bigger - the Russian authorities' or human rights defenders'?

Radzina: “This is common work. In the first place, of course, of human rights organizations, European and American politicians. And of course I am glad that the Russian authorities did not extradite me”.

Euroradio: Who helped you to get settled in Vilnius?

Radzina: “I have just arrived to Vilnius, literally several days ago. We rent an apartment in which we work and live. We are modest people who got used to working practically on our knees back in Belarus, the most important thing for us is to work whatever happens”.